Dutch parties reach coalition agreement after 9 months of negotiations

By Abdullah Asiran

The Hague, NETHERLANDS (AA) - Four political parties in the Netherlands have agreed on a deal to form a coalition government, following nearly nine months of negotiations.

The deal was announced at a joint news conference.

The coalition government will be consisting of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), Democrats 66 (D66), Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and Christian Unity (CU).

According to the deal, the government will invest primarily in security, climate, and housing.

After the deal is discussed in the parliament on Thursday, it is expected that Rutte, who received the most votes in the last general election, will be formally given the task of forming the government.

Rutte, who has been prime minister for three terms, will become the country's longest-serving prime minister with the beginning of his fourth term.

On Jan. 15, the four-party coalition collapsed after a report said some Dutch officials, including some government ministers, civil servants, and even judges, wrongfully accused thousands of families of defrauding the tax office over welfare benefits between 2013 and 2019.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar