Does the Netherlands still have an extraparliamentary cabinet?
A clear, unambiguous definition of an extraparliamentary cabinet is still lacking from the political arena of The Hague. Caroline van der Plas, Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB) party leader, wants to discuss this issue with the party chairs of the Dutch coalition parties. Wim Voermans, Professor of Constitutional Law, gives his perspective on this in Dutch weekly news magazine ‘Elsevier Weekblad’.
Professor Voermans believes that discussing this issue is pointless as it has long been clear within constitutional law that it’s a confusing term. This was also why, this spring, informateur Kim Putters advised against using the term. Professor Voermans explains that in an extraparliamentary cabinet – which has not actually occurred since the nineteenth century – ‘parliament operates completely independently of the cabinet and is not involved in forming the cabinet or drawing up the government programme’.
The current Dutch cabinet does not fulfil the definition of the term ‘extraparliamentary’, as the coalition partners were closely involved in setting up the cabinet and drawing up the outline agreement, as well as – to all appearances – in finalising the government programme. Professor Voermans therefore argues that the Schoof cabinet is an ordinary ‘majority cabinet with a few unique features’. He also believes that an extraparliamentary cabinet is not preferable, as ‘it solves nothing and only causes confusion.’
Professor Voermans adds that this confusion over government structure is not helpful – they would do better to use their energy on effective collaboration. After all, members of the current coalition do not agree on a number of key issues – they only actually agree only on immigration policy, asylum and migration. ‘The four parties are not coming together and there's little love lost between them.’ Professor Voermans argues that this is the real problem at hand.
More information
Read the full Elsevier Weekblad article (in Dutch) here
Photo: Alireza Parpaei through Unsplash