Tax plan still lacks majority ahead of 12 November vote

The cabinet of D66, VVD and CDA is still looking for support for its tax plan (belastingplan) and other budgets. Prime Minister Jetten, Finance minister Heinen and Finance state secretary Eerenberg talk to opposition parties tomorrow, in three rounds: first the ChristenUnie and 50Plus, then JA21, BBB and SGP, and last Pro and Volt. Most of these parties were already spoken to earlier this week.

The cabinet does not yet have a majority in the Tweede Kamer or the Eerste Kamer. The votes on the tax plan are scheduled for 12 November. The cabinet has said it wants broad support of 100 seats in the Tweede Kamer; opposition parties say that cannot be done and that the cabinet must choose.

Three routes to a majority

The ChristenUnie and 50Plus, together with the seats of Groep Markuszower, could give a majority in the Tweede Kamer. Markuszower said earlier that he makes few demands; what matters most to him is that Pro does not come to power.

JA21, SGP and BBB announced today that they will negotiate together, and demand that the cabinet deals with all three. They want the tax increase to meet the NATO spending norm, which the CDA calls the "vrijheidsbijdrage" (freedom contribution), taken off the table, plus substantial tax relief. JA21 also wants asylum measures, BBB changes to the nitrogen policy, and SGP attention for surrogacy and abortion policy.

Pro and Volt form the third route, on the left. Pro has said it is willing to talk if taxes on labour fall further and the wealthy contribute more, and its leader Klaver has stressed in recent days that he is ready to compromise. With Pro and Volt, the cabinet would also have a majority in the Eerste Kamer.

The coalition partners themselves are divided: D66 and CDA prefer working with the left, while the VVD prefers a majority on the right. The VVD also opposes changes to inheritance and gift tax as alternative funding.