Netherlands Forms Rare Minority Government as Three Parties Break Political Tradition
The Hague, Friday, 9 January 2026.
Dutch politics enters uncharted territory as D66, CDA, and VVD announce they will govern without parliamentary majority support. This unprecedented decision leaves the coalition 10 seats short in the lower house and 16 seats short in the senate, forcing them to negotiate with opposition parties on every major issue. The formation represents a dramatic shift from traditional Dutch consensus politics, with D66 leader Rob Jetten becoming the first liberal prime minister since 1918.
Coalition Arithmetic Reveals Challenging Path Forward
The three-party coalition faces significant mathematical challenges in both chambers of parliament. Together, D66, CDA, and VVD hold 66 seats in the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer), leaving them 10 seats short of the 76 needed for a majority [1][2]. Their position in the Senate (Eerste Kamer) proves even more precarious, with the coalition sitting 16 seats short of a majority [1][2]. This parliamentary arithmetic means the coalition will need to negotiate with opposition parties on every piece of legislation, creating an unprecedented operational framework for Dutch governance.
Election Results Shape Limited Coalition Options
The October 2025 election produced a highly fragmented parliament with 15 parties securing seats out of 27 that contested [4]. D66 and the Party for Freedom (PVV) each won 26 seats, followed by VVD with 22 seats and the Green Left-Labor alliance (GroenLinks-PvdA) with 20 seats [4]. The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) secured 18 seats, while JA21 obtained nine seats [4]. This fragmentation left limited viable coalition combinations, as major parties ruled out governing with the PVV, which had brought down the previous government [4].
Strategic Disagreements Block Majority Formation
The decision to form a minority government came after extensive negotiations at the De Zwaluwenberg estate in Hilversum on Thursday and Friday, January 9, 2026 [2]. VVD had pushed until the final moment to include the far-right party JA21, which would have given the coalition 75 seats and brought them within one seat of a majority [1]. However, D66 leader Rob Jetten expressed strong reservations about working with JA21, stating ‘I don’t think a combination of these three parties plus JA21 is wise at this time, given everything that needs to happen’ [2]. The resistance stemmed from fundamental disagreements on climate policy, nitrogen emissions, asylum issues, and European cooperation [7].
Historic Liberal Leadership Emerges from Deadlock
Rob Jetten’s appointment as prime minister marks a historic milestone, making him the first liberal prime minister since 1918 and the introduction of universal suffrage [5]. The 46-year-old D66 leader acknowledged the challenging road ahead, stating ‘The new cabinet team is going to have to work hard, but we think we can do it’ [1]. CDA leader Henri Bontenbal described the arrangement as ‘the new political reality,’ expressing hope that it could usher in ‘a new political culture’ characterized by less animosity between parties [1]. VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz, despite her preference for including JA21, committed to the minority arrangement while emphasizing that this choice was not made ‘for lack of better options’ [7].
Opposition Reactions Signal Uncertain Parliamentary Dynamics
The decision to govern as a minority has drawn mixed reactions from excluded parties, signaling potential challenges ahead. JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans described the exclusion as a ‘missed opportunity’ and indicated his party would maintain ‘a constructive but critical eye on developments’ from the opposition benches [1][7]. The left-wing Green Left-Labor alliance, which won 20 seats in the election, characterized the minority government as a ‘risky political experiment’ that would lead to ‘unnecessary uncertainty’ [1]. The three coalition parties plan to invite opposition leaders for discussions in the coming days to explain their vision for cooperation and explore potential issue-based partnerships [2][4].