2003 Dutch cabinet formation

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After the January 22, 2003 general election, the Netherlands began forming a new government. The result was the Second Balkenende cabinet, sworn in on May 27, 2003, a coalition of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and Democrats 66 (D66).

The first round of talks began on February 5 and aimed for a CDA-PvdA government. Queen Beatrix appointed informateurs Piet Hein Donner (CDA) and Frans Leijnse (PvdA). Balkenende talked with CDA’s Maxime Verhagen and Joop Wijn and with PvdA’s Wouter Bos, Ferd Crone, and Jet Bussemaker. On April 12 the talks stalled, with both sides blaming the other for a lack of chemistry and for changing proposals that would affect economic goals.

On April 15 the queen appointed new advisers, Rein Jan Hoekstra (CDA) and Frits Korthals Altes (VVD), to explore a majority cabinet based on CDA and VVD plus one or more other parties. In the second round the advisers looked at three options that would include CDA and VVD; the LPF was not viable. On April 29 CDA and VVD decided to form a coalition with D66, while Christian unions and SGP were kept out due to ideological distance.

After Queen Beatrix asked on May 1 to continue, negotiations proceeded. By May 15 they were close to a common program, and on May 16 the CDA, VVD, and D66 agreed on a coalition program. D66 held a party congress on May 18 to approve participation. After a parliamentary debate on May 20, the informateurs reported to the queen, and Balkenende was appointed as Formateur that evening.

Maxime Verhagen led the new talks on behalf of CDA, with Gerrit Zalm (VVD) and Boris Dittrich (D66) joining. Within a week all ministers and state secretaries were named. The new cabinet reused 17 members from the previous one and added 9 new ones, with more women than before.

On May 27, 2003, the Second Balkenende cabinet was sworn in. It would fall on June 30, 2006, after D66 withdrew over objections to Rita Verdonk’s handling of the Ayaan Hirsi Ali citizenship controversy.