Paternotte says Dutch coalition is not in crisis after tax deal

D66 and the Christian Democrats have agreed with left-wing opposition parties on a proposed millionaires’ tax, without the VVD’s agreement, prompting the Dutch prime minister to cancel a foreign trip and the VVD leader to skip a debate. D66 parliamentary leader Jan Paternotte says the developments do not amount to a coalition crisis.

The deal could secure support from the opposition parties PRO and Volt for the government’s tax plan, provided their proposed wealth tax is included. Paternotte called the agreement “a good step” towards backing the plan.

He said the VVD had been kept informed and that coalition parties had agreed they could vote differently on proposals. “We have been in constant consultation with the VVD,” he said, adding that D66, the VVD and the CDA had each voted differently on measures.

Paternotte said the parties were “simply looking for solutions”. The report did not give details of the tax proposal or say whether PRO and Volt had formally committed to supporting the government’s plan.