The differences between the cabinet and PRO over next year’s budget remain “enormous”, according to PRO leader Jesse Klaver. He repeated the assessment after the first meeting with Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Deputy Prime Ministers Dilan Yeşilgöz (VVD) and Bart van den Brink (CDA).
Klaver wants the proposed cuts to social security removed from the budget. He said he had not yet seen any movement from the cabinet on that issue. Despite that, he remains willing to continue talks on whether PRO will support the minority coalition’s budget.
“We will see in the coming weeks whether they are willing to meet our demands,” Klaver said. He added that he does not yet know when a follow-up meeting will take place.
Klaver had hoped the talks would produce more progress, particularly because time is running short. The cabinet must submit its budget plans to the Council of State within two weeks.
“It is all very short notice. The cabinet left it until the very last moment,” he said.
Finance Minister Eelco Heinen (VVD) did not take part in the discussions. Klaver said he found that “striking” and noted that he had never experienced budget negotiations without the finance minister present.
The coalition does not have enough seats for a majority in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
The first round of negotiations took place on Monday with PRO and JA21. A JA21 spokesperson described that meeting as “good and constructive”.
On Wednesday, Jetten and the deputy prime ministers will meet with the ChristenUnie, 50PLUS and the SGP. A meeting with Volt is scheduled for next week.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
