Dutch finance minister hopeful as budget talks continue

JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans and SGP leader Chris Stoffer raised doubts about the Dutch government’s revised budget proposal on Saturday, ahead of talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Finance Minister Eelco Heinen. Their reservations followed positive reactions from PRO, Volt and the Christian Union. Eerdmans questioned whether the proposal would offer enough to parties on the right; Stoffer said PRO’s satisfaction would not mean the SGP was satisfied. [1]

Stoffer said he could not support the budget unless late abortions in hospitals were stopped. Eerdmans said he disagreed with Stoffer on that issue but intended to stand alongside him. Support from JA21 and the SGP would give the minority government a majority in the lower house, but not in the Senate. [1]

PRO and Volt have said they will negotiate together over the 2027 budget. If both backed it, the government would have 87 seats in the lower house and 38 in the Senate — the narrowest possible majority there. Jetten has said he is seeking support from opposition parties on both the left and the right. [2] [3]

Update

JA21 politician Joost Eerdmans and the SGP’s Chris Stoffer expressed doubts on 26 September about the Dutch minority cabinet’s new budget proposal, after PRO, Volt and ChristenUnie responded positively. Support from JA21 and the SGP would give the cabinet a majority for the budget in the House of Representatives, but not in the Senate. [4]

Speaking before a meeting with Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Finance Minister Eelco Heinen, Eerdmans said the political picture would change if the cabinet sought to satisfy parties on the left but not those on the right. Stoffer said a proposal that satisfied PRO would not necessarily satisfy the SGP. He made ending late abortions in hospitals a condition of his support for the budget. Eerdmans disagreed with that demand, though he said the two would stick together. [4]

PRO and Volt have said they want to negotiate together over possible support for the 2027 budget. Their backing would give the coalition 38 Senate seats — the narrowest possible majority — and 87 seats in the House of Representatives. Their first joint meeting with Jetten and Heinen was scheduled for 26 September.