The Dutch cabinet plans to open negotiations with opposition parties in the coming days over the budget and a revised tax plan, according to De Telegraaf. The move follows an internal top-level meeting, the outlet reports.
The cabinet is working to secure a parliamentary majority for its tax plans, NU reports. According to Haarlems Dagblad, the cabinet intends to bring a new proposal on the tax plan to the opposition.
AD.nl reports that the coalition leadership met on Saturday to work on a difficult puzzle: finding a solution for a gap of 500 million euros. RTL.nl reports that the cabinet's top members met at the Catshuis, the official residence used for government consultations, to discuss the tax plan and the budgets.
The reporting does not specify which opposition parties are involved, what the revised tax proposal contains, or how the 500 million euro gap would be closed. Those details are expected to emerge as the talks proceed.
The negotiations are aimed at building enough support in parliament for the cabinet's budget and tax measures. The internal meeting and the planned outreach to opposition parties suggest the cabinet does not currently have the votes it needs on its own.
Watch for the cabinet's new tax proposal to be presented to opposition parties, and for signals from those parties on whether they will back it.
