New Cabinet may start this week

Support LPF instable

umours have it that the third Balkenende cabinet may be sworn in this week. Balkenende III may give its government policy statement before the weekend.

The “informateur” Ruud Lubbers will report on Wednesday morning to the Queen. She will delay her departure for her holidays in Italy if the formation so requires. If not, she will leave on Wednesday.

Lubbers spent Tuesday arranging the information provided by the various political leaders. He lists all subjects to be handled by the minority cabinet of CDA and VVD before the elections of November 22th.

CDA and VVD party leaders indicated that they are not charmed with such lists. They want the new cabinet to have full initiative of its own.

But the lists of subjects are for Lubbers also a tool to determine if the minority cabinet has the support of a sufficient majority in parliament.

LPF MP crossing to Labour

The minority coalition of Balkenende III is likely to be very unstable if it leans on the Fortuyn party (LPF). One of its MP's, Margot Kraneveldt, crossed over to the Labour party in discontent with the support the LPF is prepared to give to the new minority coalition. She will leave parliament and hopes to reenter with the next election, but then as Labour candidate.

The LPF is in its final stage of total disintegration anyhow. Opinion polls show for months that the party will not return in parliament. Several members are having talks to join other parties or movements to stay active in politics as member of parliament.

For example Joost Eerdmans is preparing a new party with Marco Pastors of the Leefbaar party from Rotterdam to join national elections. The unknown LPF member Max Hermans is said to have had talks with the VVD, without any result yet.

The former Pim Fortuyn followers have been a great support for Balkenende II, the cabinet that broke down just before getting to the finish line. In many votes in parliament they saved government proposals.
- posted by DD @ 1:17 AM Perma Link/Print