The MP who caused the most recent coalition talks in the Netherlands to collapse is resigning from parliament. Christian Democrat MP Ab Klink, who was a coalition negotiator together with his party leader Maxime Verhagen, said on Monday that his credibility inside the group of Christian Democrat Appeal (CDA) MPs has crumbled.

Earlier this week Mr Klink decided to quit the coalition talks with free-market liberal VVD and Geert Wilders' anti-Islam Freedom Party, saying that Mr Wilders would undermine freedom of religion and would harm the Dutch image abroad. Since throwing in the towel, Mr Klink and two like-minded MPs were seen as dissidents within the Christian Democrat party (CDA).

The proposed coalition would have had a mere one-seat majority in parliament, which was thrown into doubt by Mr Klink's U-turn. When CDA was no longer able to guarantee that majority, the Freedom Party broke off negotiations, arguing that the Christian Democrats would not prove a stable and reliable partner in the proposed three-party coalition government.

Queen Beatrix spoke to the leaders of the Upper and Lower House on Monday, and will consult the Lower House party leaders in the next few days to see what the options are. It is up to the queen to appoint a coalition negotiator and later a prime minister.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide