third Rutte cabinet

The 2017 general election resulted in a House of Representatives where at least four parties would be required to form a coalition with a majority (76 seats). Media sources speculated that incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the VVD would seek to form a government with the support of the centre-right CDA and liberal D66. The CU was thought to be the most likely candidate to be the fourth member of the coalition.{{cite news |title=Dutch election: Wilders defeat celebrated by PM Rutte |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39287689 |access-date=16 March 2017 |website=BBC News |date=16 March 2017}} Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, Edith Schippers, was selected by the VVD to serve as the party's informateur on 16 March and appointed by Speaker of the House Khadija Arib, seeking to determine whether Jesse Klaver of GroenLinks (GL) solely desired a left-wing government, or instead simply viewed the VVD as an unlikely coalition partner. Similarly, talks with Emile Roemer of the Socialist Party (SP), who repeatedly stated during the campaign that his party would not govern with the VVD, remained a possibility.{{cite news |title=Nederland Kiest: 'formatie wordt moeilijk, moeilijk, moeilijk' |url=http://nos.nl/liveblog/2163397-nederland-kiest-formatie-wordt-moeilijk-moeilijk-moeilijk.html |publisher=NOS |date=16 March 2017 |access-date=16 March 2017}}

The leaders of D66, the CDA, the PvdA, the VVD, the SP, GL and the CU stated that they would not enter a coalition with the PVV;{{cite news |title=Wilders: liever een coalitie dan een revolte |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/2084532-wilders-liever-een-coalitie-dan-een-revolte.html |publisher=NOS |date=2 February 2016 |access-date=16 March 2017}}{{cite news |title=Buma weigert regeren met PVV nog steeds |url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/24631201/__Buma_weigert_regeren_met_PVV__.html |newspaper=De Telegraaf |date=18 October 2015 |access-date=16 March 2017}}{{cite news |title=PvdA-voorzitter Spekman: Henk en Mark, zeg nee tegen de PVV |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/2152980-pvda-voorzitter-spekman-henk-en-mark-zeg-nee-tegen-de-pvv.html |publisher=NOS |date=14 January 2017 |access-date=16 March 2016}}{{cite news |title=Rutte: kans op regering VVD met PVV is nul |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/2153087-rutte-kans-op-regering-vvd-met-pvv-is-nul.html |publisher=NOS |date=15 January 2017 |access-date=16 March 2017}}{{cite news |author=Sasha Kester |title=Roemer sluit samenwerking met VVD uit en roept PvdA op hetzelfde te doen |url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/roemer-sluit-samenwerking-met-vvd-uit-en-roept-pvda-op-hetzelfde-te-doen~a4448551/ |newspaper=Volkskrant |date=14 January 2017 |access-date=16 March 2017}}{{cite news |title=Klaver sluit VVD niet uit, PVV wel |url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/27434801/__Klaver__GL__sluit_PVV_uit__.html |newspaper=De Telegraaf |date=15 January 2017 |access-date=16 March 2017}}{{cite news |title=ChristenUnie sluit samenwerking met PVV uit|url=http://www.grootnieuwsradio.nl/k/n663/news/view/97410/42103/christenunie-sluit-samenwerking-met-pvv-uit.html |publisher=Groot Nieuws Radio |date=23 January 2017 |access-date=16 March 2017}} Roemer also said that the SP would not join a coalition with the VVD.{{cite news |author1=Edwin van der Aa |author2=Hans van Soest |title=Emile Roemer sluit VVD uit |url=http://www.ad.nl/binnenland/emile-roemer-sluit-vvd-uit~ae4ad92f/ |newspaper=Algemeen Dagblad |date=14 January 2017 |access-date=16 March 2017}}

The first proposed coalition was one involving the VVD-CDA-D66 and GL. This was the preferred coalition of Alexander Pechtold, Lodewijk Asscher and Gert-Jan Segers, while Jesse Klaver continued to argue that the major policy differences between GL and the VVD would make a coalition difficult.{{cite web |last1=Vries|first1=Joost de |title=Van middenkabinet tot 'christelijk progressief', alle formatiewensen op een rij – Binnenland – Voor nieuws, achtergronden en columns |url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/van-middenkabinet-tot-christelijk-progressief-alle-formatiewensen-op-een-rij~a4476603/ |date=20 March 2017 |website=De Volkskrant |access-date=28 March 2017 |language=nl-NL}} Nevertheless, the four parties began more serious negotiations toward a coalition agreement. The Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) reported that "labour market reform, investment in law enforcement and additional money for nursing homes" would be areas of agreement between the parties, while "refugee policy, income distribution, climate and medical ethics issues are potential stumbling blocks".{{cite web |title=Formatie dag 8: de onderhandelingen gaan beginnen |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/2164690-formatie-dag-8-de-onderhandelingen-gaan-beginnen.html |date=23 March 2017 |website=NOS |access-date=28 March 2017 |language=nl}}

On 15 May, talks on the proposed four-way VVD-CDA-D66-GL coalition failed. It was reported that the main dispute concerned immigration, but GL Leader Jesse Klaver cited climate issues and income differences as other issues where the parties disagreed. The end of the talks was reported to be a consensus decision, with no party blaming any others.[http://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-coalition-talks-failed-says-official-edith-schippers-mark-rutte/ Dutch coalition talks failed say officials], (in English) politico.eu.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39930986 BBC News], Europe.

Coalition talks were reported to be at an impasse, with the VVD and CDA favouring a coalition with the CU, D66 favouring a coalition with either the PvdA or the SP, the SP being absolutely opposed to a coalition with the VVD, the CDA being opposed to a coalition without the VVD, the PvdA rejecting any coalition, and all parties with more than five seats rejecting a coalition with the PVV. D66 said that it would consider a coalition with the CU very difficult due to disagreements on medical-ethical issues such as doctor-assisted suicide, due to the lack of representation of the political left within that coalition, and due to the small majority of one seat in both chambers, which could make for an unstable coalition.[http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/28208317/__Geen_kans_op_slagen_met_CU__.html Geen kans op slagen met CU] (in Dutch), telegraaf.nl.[https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/05/18/formatie-in-impasse-d66-heeft-nog-geen-zin-in-cu-9326472-a1559535 Formatie in impassie: D66 nog geen zin in CU] (in Dutch), nrc.nl, 2017.05.18.

In late June 2017, discussions began again between the VVD, D66, the CDA and the CU under the lead of new informateur Herman Tjeenk Willink. After a three-week summer break, talks resumed on 9 August 2017, and were reported to be close to a conclusion due to representatives of unions and employers' organizations joining the discussions, which typically happens near the end of such negotiations.[http://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-government-talks-near-finish-line-report/ Dutch government talks near finish line] Politico, 4 August 2017.[https://ph.news.yahoo.com/talks-form-dutch-govt-kick-off-again-break-173358812.html Talks to form Dutch govt kick off again after break] Yahoo News 9 August 2017. In September 2017, a budget deal compromise was reached allowing the coalition talks to continue. While still 'close to conclusion', it appeared likely that the talks about government formation would exceed the record since World War II of 208 days set in 1977.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/dutch-budget-deal-prevents-collapse-of-shaky-coalition-1.3219753 |title=Dutch budget deal prevents collapse of shaky coalition |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=13 September 2017 |access-date=2 October 2017}} After 208 days of negotiations, the VVD, D66, CDA and CU agreed to a coalition under a third informateur, Gerrit Zalm,{{cite news |title=208 Days to Forge Four-Party Coalition Dutch Government |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/208-days-to-forge-fourparty-coalition-dutch-government/news-story/57a20dcbeec7757c8e87b9228e5520f3 |date=10 October 2017 |newspaper=The Australian |access-date=9 October 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Kroet |first1=Cynthia |title=Dutch Coalition Partners Agree on Government Deal, Seek Party Backing |url=http://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-coalition-partners-agree-on-government-deal-seek-party-backing/ |date=9 October 2017 |publisher=Politico |access-date=9 October 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Henley |first1=Jon |title=Dutch Parties Agree Coalition Government After a Record 208 Days |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/09/dutch-politicians-ready-form-government-election-coalition |date=9 October 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=9 October 2017}} and all members of the House of Representatives of the involved parties approved the agreement on 9 October 2017.{{cite web |last1=Kroet |first1=Cynthia |title=Dutch Government Coalition Deal Receives Parliamentary Backing |url=http://www.politico.eu/article/mark-rutte-dutch-government-coalition-deal-receives-parliamentary-backing/ |date=10 October 2017 |publisher=Politico |access-date=9 October 2017}} On 26 October the new cabinet was formally installed, 225 days after the elections, setting a record for the longest cabinet formation in Dutch history.

On 7 October 2019, the government lost its majority when Wybren van Haga, after being expelled from Rutte's VVD party for allegedly renovating a building he owned without the necessary permits, decided to sit as an Independent. Had he resigned, another member on the VVD electoral party list would have replaced him, maintaining Rutte's parliamentary majority of one. According to Politico EU, Van Haga wrote he would vote with the government on established coalition policy, but would make his own decisions on future laws.{{Cite web |title=Dutch coalition loses majority in parliament |last=Schaart |first=Eline |work=Politico Europe |date=7 October 2019 |access-date=2019-10-07 |url= https://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-coalition-loses-majority-in-parliament-mark-rutte/ |quote=The Dutch coalition government on Monday lost its majority in parliament when an MP who had been expelled from Prime Minister Mark Rutte's party said he would sit as an independent. }}

;Government

The Third Rutte cabinet repealed the Referendum Act passed in 2015, although that proposal was written in none of the coalition parties' election platforms. It stated the law had not delivered what was expected; results from the 2016 Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement referendum and 2018 Intelligence and Security Services Act referendum have been going against government proposals. The cabinet also deconstitutionalised the method of appointment of mayors and King's commissioners, thus allowing the method to be changed by law.{{cite news |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/01/15/volg-hier-de-wetgeving-van-rutte-iii-a1583903 |title=Volg hier de wetgeving van Rutte III |website=NRC |language=nl |date=15 January 2018 |access-date=22 November 2018 |last1=Redactie |first1=Onze Politieke }}

;Finance

The cabinet plans to simplify income tax, reducing the number of tax brackets to two. Income below 68,600 would be taxed at 36.9% and income from 68,600 onward at 49.5%. There are also plans to increase the lower VAT rate from 6 to 9%. A plan to abolish dividend tax proved so controversial that it was discarded in October 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.nu.nl/politiek/5514236/kabinet-en-coalitie-schaffen-dividendbelasting-definitief-niet-af.html |title=Kabinet en coalitie schaffen dividendbelasting definitief niet af |website=NU.nl |language=nl |date=15 October 2018 |access-date=22 November 2018}} Instead, the cabinet will now lower corporation tax more than was initially planned; the higher rate will be lowered from 25 to 20.5%, and the lower rate from 20 to 15%.

;Justice

In judicial matters, the cabinet intends to end the automatic conditional release of prisoners after two-thirds of their sentence and to shorten asylum permits from five to three years, after which refugees can request an extension of another two years.

;Labour

The cabinet intends to reform the labour market and pension system. Laws around the termination of employment will be relaxed, while paid sick leave will be shortened. The cabinet initially planned to allow employers to pay handicapped people below the minimum wage, which would then be supplemented by local government. However, this proposal was later retracted.

;Environment

The cabinet pledged to ban the sale of non-emission-free cars by 2030. There are also plans to introduce a flight tax by 2021. In March 2018, the cabinet also pledged to end gas extraction from the Groningen gas field within twelve years.{{Cite web |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2224890-kabinet-binnen-12-jaar-einde-aan-gaswinning-in-groningen.html |title=Kabinet: binnen 12 jaar einde aan gaswinning in Groningen |website=NOS |language=nl |date=29 March 2018 |access-date=22 November 2018}}

{{Third Rutte cabinet table}}

{{notes}}

{{reflist|30em}}

;Official

• {{in lang|nl}} [https://www.parlement.com/id/vkidc8m3p1sz/kabinet_rutte_iii_2017 Kabinet-Rutte III (2017–2022)] Parlement & Politiek
• {{in lang|nl}} [https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/bewindspersonen Kabinet-Rutte III] Rijksoverheid

{{Third Rutte cabinet}}

{{Government of the Netherlands}}

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Category:Cabinets of the Netherlands

Category:2017 establishments in the Netherlands

Category:2022 disestablishments in the Netherlands

Category:Cabinets established in 2017

Category:Cabinets disestablished in 2022

Cabinet 3