Coalition still lacks majority for 2027 tax plan

The coalition of D66, VVD and CDA has no majority yet for the 2027 tax plan (Belastingplan), two days before the vote. The Tweede Kamer continued its debate on Tuesday 10 November with Finance minister Eelco Heinen (VVD) and state secretary Eelco Eerenberg (D66). Talks with the opposition continue on Wednesday.

Eerenberg told coalition and opposition to "carry on with your horse-trading, then" (poldert u lekker vooruit), a nod to Dutch consensus-building. The cabinet will then look in good faith at any amendments submitted on Wednesday, he said.

What happens next

• Wednesday 14:00: deadline for amendments
• Thursday: votes on the tax plan, at the start of the afternoon session

Right and left both hold their demands

On the right, JA21, BBB and SGP say they are acting together and have non-financial demands on nitrogen, asylum and medical ethics. JA21's Michiel Hoogeveen said the three still stand by "we stand or fall together" (together out, together home). He said the cabinet is moving towards them on "a number of points", but does too little on nitrogen.

On the left, Pro and Volt demand a "millionaire tax" amendment: a €1.5bn tax cut for working people, paid for by an equally large tax rise for the wealthy. Pro's Luc Stultiens called the cabinet's "one-sided placing of the bill on working people" still unacceptable. VVD MP Wendy van Eijk said a higher wealth tax is out of the question for her party, but did not rule out D66 and CDA backing a left-wing amendment without the VVD.

The debate also covered box 3, where a new capital gains tax starts in 2029. Heinen denied that a billion-euro gap looms, saying the forecasts reach too far ahead, to 2031–2040. Pro leader Jesse Klaver said: "We are still in a permanent formation, with a cabinet that does not choose between left and right." He added that it will have to this week.