The Hague – The new government of the Netherlands was sworn in today, with centrist Rob Jetten taking the oath to become the youngest prime
minister in the country's history at 38 years old. The ceremony was held at the
Huis ten Bosch palace in The Hague, where Jetten and his cabinet were sworn in before King
Willem-Alexander.
Jetten's appointment follows the victory of
his party, Democrats 66 (D66),
in last October's snap election. In a tight electoral race, D66 managed to overcome the Party for Freedom (PVV)
led by right-wing populist Geert Wilders, who had caused the collapse of the previous
government.
The new prime minister will lead a centre-right coalition
formed by his D66
party, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and the Christian
Democratic Appeal (CDA). However, the alliance is a minority
government, holding 66 seats
in parliament, nine short of an absolute majority. This configuration will
force the executive to negotiate every measure and significant reform vote by
vote, seeking support from opposition parties to pass legislation.
The Jetten government's programme outlines several key priorities. In foreign
policy, the coalition has promised full support for Ukraine and has committed
to meeting NATO spending
obligations, planning a €19 billion increase for defence. On the domestic front, the programme presents a
rigorous approach, with budget cuts to finance investments and a hard line on
immigration. Proposed measures include stricter rules on family reunification
and the idea that asylum applications should be submitted outside European
borders. Cuts to social benefits are also planned to fund military investments.
This new political arrangement marks a change from the
previous government, which was considered the most right-wing in recent Dutch
history. Despite this, several analysts highlight a "clear right-wing
signature" in the new executive as well, especially concerning migration
and budget policies. The formation of the government took 117 days of
negotiations, a considerably shorter time than the 223 days required for the
previous coalition.
Jetten's inauguration relegates Geert Wilders to the opposition, whose PVV party came in second
but was excluded from any possible alliance. Wilders has already stated that he will oppose any
initiative by the new government, heralding a complex political climate for the
newly started legislature.
The Catholic Church in the Netherlands is going through a delicate phase: the Apostolic
Nuncio recently resigned and, at present, the post remains vacant, with no new
pontifical representative appointed. The Archdiocese of Utrecht, the largest in
the country, is led by Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, known for his conservative positions. The
Diocese of Roermond, meanwhile, experienced a complex period last year, marked
by decisions from Bishop Hendrikus Marie Gerardus Smeets that sparked
discussion and controversy. In 2008, there were 4,267,000 Catholics in the
country.
Fr.G.C.
Silere non possum