Queen Beatrix began consultations with Dutch political leaders on Thursday evening about the formation of a new government. She first spoke to her permanent advisors, the speakers of both houses of parliament and the vice-president of the Council of State.

On Friday, she is receiving each of the party leaders. Appointing a prime minister is one of the few political prerogatives of the ruling monarch under the Dutch constitution. Although the queen formally countersigns all laws, her role is largely ceremonial.

Coalition preliminaries
The free-market liberal VVD reconfirmed Mark Rutte as its leader on Thursday morning. Mr Rutte repeated that his party, which won more parliamentary seats than any other, wants a government coalition to be formed quickly. As the biggest party in the new Lower House, the VVD is expected to take the lead in coalition talks.

Geert Wilders, whose anti-Islam and anti-immigration Freedom Party almost tripled its number of MPs, has begun making strategic moves to increase his chances of entering government. On Thursday morning, he said his party still prefers to keep the retirement age at 65 rather than the 67 currently being considered. However, he said he was willing to compromise on the issue if that would make joining a coalition easier.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide

• Header picture shows, left to right: outgoing PM Jan Peter Balkenende, Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders, new frontmen Job Cohen (Labour) and Emile Roemer (Socialists), and rightist liberal candidate for PM, Mark Rutte.