Royal approval
October 8, 2010
The Netherlands' Queen Beatrix has asked the leader of the liberal WD party, Mark Rutte, to form a government following months of coalition negotiations.
Rutte is to lead a center-right coalition with the country's Christian Democrat party (CDA), which will rely on the anti-Islam Party for Freedom (PVV) for parliamentary support.
"Her Majesty the Queen met Mr Rutte at her palace this evening," the Dutch government's communication service said early on Friday. "The Queen asked him ... to form a cabinet as soon as possible."
According to the coalition deal agreed last week, the PVV is to remain outside of government.
However, the party, which is led by controversial politician Geert Wilders, has agreed to back coalition legislation in exchange for a say in policy making.
Wilders last week said that the government accord would result in a ban of face-covering veils such as the burqa - and a halving of immigration.
An official appointed by the queen approved the government deal on Thursday, saying that the cabinet would be able to rely on "fruitful cooperation" from the legislature.
Political analysts have expressed grave doubts that the arrangement will survive for a full four-year term.
Fragile majority, delicate future
The new government's majority is fragile, with 76 seats out of 150 and the principle of co-operation with Wilders has divided opinion within the CDA. Approval by party members on Tuesday was the final hurdle before the plans could be presented to the monarch.
CDA leader Maxime Verhagen said his party's members would continually asses the agreement, to make sure that it did "justice to CDA policies and principles."
Wilders, who describes Islam as a "fascist" religion, appeared in court in Amsterdam on Monday charged with inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims.
Under the agreement within the coalition, government spending is to be cut by 18 billion euros per year ($24 billion) by 2015.
The liberal WD narrowly emerged as the largest party in the June general election, taking 31 out of 150 seats in parliament, while the PVV increased its support from nine to 24 seats.
The CDA, which has been part of almost every government since the Second World War, saw its haul of seats plunge from 40 to 21.
Author: Richard Connor (Reuters/AFP)
Editor: Chuck Penfold