Next Dutch government will likely be ‘greener’

Significance

Government formation should have been relatively straightforward but a series of political controversies have damaged VVD leader and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s credibility with the CU and some opposition parties.

Impacts

• The collective rise of the far-right vote means the far right will continue to worry centrist parties and thus influence government policy.
• Investment in nuclear energy to meet climate targets is unlikely to be a priority for the new government.
• Dutch influence in the EU could grow with the departure of Merkel in September, and Macron’s focus on the 2022 election.