As coalition talks continue in the Netherlands between D66, VVD and CDA, the likelihood of a minority government isincreasing. But what exactly is a minority cabinet, and how would it function in practice?
In the Dutch political system, a cabinet usually relies on a majority in the House of Representatives, meaning at least 76 of the 150 seats. This allows the government to pass legislation with relative certainty. A minority cabinet, by contrast,lacks that majority and must seek support from other parties for every proposal it puts forward. Unlike a majority cabinet,a minority government cannot assume its plans will pass automatically.
According to AD newspaper, this means ministers will have to negotiate continuously to gather enough votes. Support often comes at a price, as other parties may demand concessions in exchange for their backing. One way to manage this is through so-called ‘tacit support’, in which an opposition party agrees to support key policies, such as the budget, without formally joining the cabinet. This construction can be unstable, as supporting parties can easily withdraw theirbacking if political circumstances change.
Pros and cons of governing without a majority
A minority cabinet faces clear challenges. Ministers must work harder to secure support, especially for unpopular measures such as budget cuts. While parties may quickly agree on popular policies like tax reductions, painfuldecisions are often much harder to sell.
Still, there are advantages. A minority government can seek shifting majorities, working with left-wing parties on issues such as climate policy and with right-wing parties on matters like migration. This can make the cabinet more flexible than a traditional coalition. Opposition parties may also gain more influence. 50Plus leader Jan Struijs welcomed thisidea, saying, ‘you have influence on every issue. That’s a much more advantageous situation for us’.
Challenges in the Senate
Forming a minority cabinet not only complicates matters in the House of Representatives. According to AD, securing support in the Senate is often even more difficult, as the political balance differs between the two chambers.
The Netherlands has frequently had cabinets without a Senate majority, but the situation facing a potential D66-VVD-CDA cabinet would be especially complex. Its support in the Senate would be smaller than that of previous cabinets, meaning it would often need backing from multiple parties at once.
Is this new for the Netherlands?
While opponents sometimes describe a minority cabinet as an ‘experiment’, it would not be unprecedented. However, successful examples are rare. Political scientist Corné Smit of Leiden University points out that since the introduction of universal suffrage in 1917, the Netherlands has had only one true minority cabinet: the Colijn V cabinet in 1939. However, it was not a success, since it was dismissed within days.
Smit does not classify the Rutte I cabinet (2010-2012) as a minority government. On radio with Nieuws en Co, he argued that it functioned like a traditional majority government, because it relied on structured support from the PVV.
Still, minority cabinets have occasionally achieved significant results. According to parliament.com, the Cort van derLinden cabinet managed to pass the major constitutional reform in which universal suffrage was agreed thanks to broad cross-party agreements, despite lacking a stable majority.
An uncertain road ahead
Smit believes minority cabinets can act more quickly and allow centrist parties to maintain a clearer political profile. However, he also warns that responsibility can become blurred when policies fail.
With negotiations ongoing, it remains unclear whether a minority cabinet will ultimately be formed. What is clear,however, is that such a government would face a demanding political landscape, requiring constant negotiation and compromise in both chambers of parliament.
Written by Nicole Bea Kerr