Socialist Party declines negotiations for a cabinet role

THE HAGUE – Political insider Hoekstra who was commissioned by Queen Beatrix to survey the options for the formation of a new cabinet following the recent general elections in the Netherlands, has advanced to Phase II of his work. After the Socialist Party of Jan Marijnissen, the big winner at the polls, declined to try and bridge its policy differences with the Christian Democratic Appeal of Premier Balkenende, Hoekstra started exploring a possible majority coalition of left-leaning Labour (PvdA), the ChristenUnie (CU) and right-leaning CDA. Analysts anticipate that the three parties will be strongly motivated to adopt a coalition program that returns the country to stable government.