After 208 days, 4 Dutch parties agree on govt coalition

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – After 208 days of tough negotiations, the leaders of four Dutch parties agreed Monday on a draft program for a new center-right coalition government under Prime Minister Mark Rutte that will likely push policies further to the right.

Centrist D66 leader Alexander Pechtold said that after years of austerity, the new government will reward voters with lower taxes.

“We are coming out of crisis, so we can invest, taxes can be lowered,” Pechtold told reporters.

Rutte is expected to officially unveil the program on Tuesday along with the leaders of the Christian Democrats, the D66 party and a faith-based party, the Christian Union.

The leaders spent a final morning checking the agreement before heading to their parliamentary offices to present it to their parties’ lawmakers, who could still suggest minor amendments. Such changes, if necessary, could set off yet a new round of bargaining between the parties.

The March 15 election gave the coalition a narrow one-seat majority in the 150-seat lower house of the Dutch parliament and ended Rutte’s alliance with the center-left Labor Party.

“I am very happy,” said Rutte, who is in line to form his third ruling coalition. “Precisely on the day that this (government) formation is overtaking the longest previous formation we have … a negotiators’ agreement.”

The four parties’ negotiators attempted to hammer out an agreement that will offer something to all of their lawmakers.

“That is why we spent a lot of time on the content and I think that’s the reason that it’s a solid deal,” said Pechtold.

Gert-Jan Segers, leader of the Christian Union, which has only five seats in the lower house of Parliament, said the negotiations involved a lot of give and take.

“So it’s not all good, but there are a number of points that are clearly recognizable for the Christian Union that I am very happy with,” he said. “This brings our ideals a step closer.”

Once the deal has been formally presented, Rutte will begin appointing ministers to his new administration. The coalition is expected to be finalized and sworn in later this month by the Dutch king.

FILE- In this Sunday, March 5, 2017 the Political party leaders firebrand anti Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders (PVV), Emile Roemer (SP), Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD), Lodewijk Asscher (PVDA), Alexander Pechtold (D66) and Sybrand Buma (CDA), from left to right, pose for a group picture during a visit to De Telegraaf newspaper where the six leaders made a special election edition of the newspaper in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The leaders of four parties negotiating to form the next Dutch government have reached agreement on a draft program for a new center-right coalition, after 208 days of negotiations. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

FILE- In this Thursday, March 16, 2017 file photo Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, right, right-wing populist leader Geert Wilders, center, and Socialist Party leader Emile Roemer talk during a meeting of party leaders with the chairwoman of the parliament to discus first steps in forming a new dutch coalition government in The Hague, Netherlands. The leaders of four parties negotiating to form the next Dutch government have reached agreement on a draft program for a new center-right coalition, after 208 days of negotiations. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)