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Cabinet talks are still just talks with no serious moves towards any coalition formation. In fact Pieter Omtzigt (above) has sent an unwitting message whilst being interviewed today; written on a sheet of paper under his arm it says "not in cabinet with PVV". He later said that this was accidental but his intentions are clear.

Just how accidental this is is a matter of conjecture - during the last cabinet formation in 2021, one of the negotiators was also photographed with a sheet of notes where, clearly legible was written: "Omtzigt - function elsewhere.". He had brought the previous government into problems by acting as a whistleblower to a major tax / child-support scandal that had caused thousands of people unnecessary financial difficulties.

Omtzigt remains a rigidly moral figure who evidently dislikes Wilders modus operandi - the chance of the two finding any common ground from which to govern is increasingly small.

And here we are, 4 months after the elections and still with no new government in sight.

Despite long discussions, Pieter Omtzigt (NSC) has withdrawn from the negotiation table and is now awaiting a parliamentary debate over the state of the nation's finances. Apparently new information shows this to be worse than previously known.

There is a lot of friction between Omtzigt and Geert Wilders, who is still desperate to become PM. However many of Wilders' proposed policies look to be financially unrealistic and unachievable - whereas Omtzigt wants a solid and accountable government with sensible management.

The opposition parties are smelling blood and will no doubt give Wilders a rough time in the forthcoming debate.

To be continued...

Sounds like a pretty good form of anarchy.
The Netherlands is a pretty well organised and industrious place. The people there can carry on with their lives OK for a while, even if there's no clear set of people right at the top of the political hierarchy.

BEING A RABID (FAR) RIGHT-WINGER, A RACIST, ANTI-IMMIGRATION, AN ISLAMOPHOBE,
AND A BIT OF A NAZI IS LIKE MAKING LOVE TO A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN...
Swiss Dutch Toni

Weird things going on in Dutch politics, not sure that I can follow it all.

Wilders has been blocked from becoming PM by Pieter Omzigt, who refuses point-blank to serve in a cabinet under Wilders leadership, Yesilguz from the VVD also says 'rather not'.

This has really pissed Geert off and he promises that one day he will become Prime Minister.

At the moment the parties are looking at an 'extra-parliamentary' cabinet composed of experienced ministers without direct affiliations to any sitting parties. Also a PM must be found from outside the current parliament (the position Wilders feels he has a right to receive).

This cabinet will then execute policies determined by the parties in the parliament and voted on democratically via shifting coalitions that support various policies.

Clear? No. Thought so.

I was reading about that this morning/. Wilders was giving the impression that he had "withdrawn" from the race. It wasn't difficult to read between the lines though, nobody wants him, nobody trusts him.