The conservative VVD, Freedom Party (PVV) and the Christian Democrats (CDA) can resume their government coalition talks which stalled two weeks ago.

On Monday morning, Herman Tjeenk Willink officially advised Queen Beatrix to re-appoint Ivo Opstelten to oversee the continued talks on a VVD-CDA minority government which will be supported in parliament by the PVV. Later in the day, the leaders of the three parties resumed their negotiations chaired by Mr Opstelten.

Two weeks ago, Ab Klink who was taking part in the talks for the CDA told his party’s leader, Maxime Verhagen, that he had serious qualms about working with the PVV. Mr Klink detailed his problems in a letter which was leaked and led to two days of crisis within the CDA.

PVV leader Geert Wilders then left the talks, saying he had lost confidence in the CDA. However, Mr Klink resigned at the beginning of last week and by Tuesday, Mr Wilders had decided the coalition talks could resume.

Mr Tjeenk Willink was then appointed by the queen to look into the viability of continuing with the talks. He has now been assured by all three parties that they are reasonably confident of success.

He has advised Mr Opstelten to ensure that opposition parties would be willing to support a VVD-CDA minority government on policies, for example involving the European Union, on which the PVV will withhold its support.

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