Kasja Ollongren, the outgoing/incoming Interior Minister and Deputy PM, had been working with VVD grandee and upper-house leader Annemarie Jorritsma to find a stable coalition
Translated by Thomas Ansell
With the results of last week’s Dutch general elections now known, the two largest parties (D66 and the VVD) have been meeting to try and thrash out a new coalition agreement. Unfortunately the D66 representative Kasja Ollongren has now had to pause her involvement in the talks due to a positive Coronavirus test, reports the NOS.
Ollongren, and her VVD counterparty Annemarie Jorritsma had been due to bring their party leaders int the discussion today, but the appointment has been cancelled following Ollongren’s positive diagnosis. Jorritsma this morning said that the talks could be moved online to stop any delays.
The two representatives had started work on a coalition deal this week, following support from party leaders that D66 and the VVD should lead talks. There is a slight disagreement at play, though, with Mark Rutte preferring to continue his right-ward slump towards populism, whilst leader of D66 Sigrid Kaag would prefer a left-leaning coalition.
Ollongren is currently continuing her position as Interior Minister during the transition period, and is now the second Cabinet member to become infected with the Coronavirus this week, following Minister Mona Keijzer (CDA).
Image: Kasja Ollongren in 2019. By the Dutch Embassy in the USA on Flickr/Wikimedia. License here.
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