THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — On Monday, Dutch King Willem-Alexander officiated the swearing-in of a new minority coalition government headed by the Netherlands' youngest prime minister, Rob Jetten, who is 38 years old. This significant political event occurs at a time when Jetten will need to demonstrate exceptional bridge-building abilities to garner legislative support and maintain stability throughout his government’s four-year term.
Rob Jetten, the leader of the centrist party D66, heads a three-party administration. This coalition includes the center-right Christian Democrats and the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy. Together, these parties hold a total of 66 seats in the lower house of the Dutch parliament, which comprises 150 seats. This slim majority means that Jetten will need to engage in negotiations with opposition lawmakers regularly to secure passage for his government’s proposed legislation.
During the swearing-in ceremony held in the ornate Orange Hall of the royal palace located in a forest near The Hague, King Willem-Alexander expressed his best wishes for the new government, emphasizing the challenges that lie ahead during "uncertain times." The ceremony was marked by a small protest outside the palace gates organized by demonstrators from the Extinction Rebellion environmental group, who sounded sirens as ministers posed for a formal photograph.
After the traditional photo opportunity of the new Cabinet on the palace steps, the newly-formed government is poised to commence its duties with its inaugural Cabinet meeting scheduled for later that afternoon. In a message shared on X, Jetten stated it was "an enormous honor" to embark on his role as prime minister.
The government’s formation comes 117 days following national elections, in which Jetten’s D66 party narrowly edged out the Party for Freedom, led by anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders. The final results were determined after a careful count of postal ballots, marking the fourth national election since 2017 in a politically fragmented Netherlands.
Notably, Jetten's cabinet assumes office just one day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In light of this geopolitical turmoil, Jetten has committed to maintaining the Netherlands’ robust support for Kyiv in its ongoing conflict against Russian aggression, orchestrated by President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, he has announced plans to increase military spending, emphasizing the need for preparedness in times of geopolitical instability.
