Jetten says Dutch coalition talks could change agreement

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has said talks about the governing coalition’s future could lead not only to changes in how its parties work together but also to a substantive revision of their agreement. The prospect comes amid a dispute over a tax proposal backed by two of the coalition’s three parties.

The VVD says an amendment by opposition parties PRO and Volt to the tax plan conflicts with the coalition agreement. D66 and CDA have expressed support for the amendment. Jetten said discussions about the coalition’s future would need to address its way of working together and could also result in a “substantive adjustment”.

The remarks broaden the scope of talks previously described by Jetten as potentially involving difficult choices over the proposal to raise taxes on wealth and profits. Earlier reporting on the tax dispute said the VVD opposed that proposal, while Jetten had said the coalition had not ruled out considering it.