|
| Leaders in secret Cabinet |
1/3/2007 |
|
3 January 2007
AMSTERDAM — Cabinet formation talks will start at a secret location on Wednesday as the Christian Democrat CDA, Labour PvdA and ChristenUnie parties seek to agree on a basis for a new coalition government.
The talks are being held at a secret location because the leaders of three parties, Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA), Wouter Bos (PvdA) and André Rouvoet (ChristenUnie) want to strengthen their underlying bonds away from the media spotlight.
The facilitator of the coalition talks, informateur Herman Wijffels, said the ''secret'' talks will probably continue until Friday. The three leaders are then expected to resume talks at the normal location: the Parliament in The Hague.
The secret location for the talks is aimed at creating a relaxed mood for negotiations. This is important, given the fact that in 2003 coalition talks between the CDA and PvdA ran aground due to a lack of ''chemistry'' between Balkenende and Bos.
The CDA, PvdA and ChristenUnie agreed at the end of December to enter into coalition talks after the Socialist SP and green-left GroenLinks parties were eliminated as a possible third coalition partner for the CDA and PvdA.
Balkenende, Bos and Rouvoet want to form a cabinet as quickly as possible, preferably before the provincial elections on 7 March
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
