Netherlands parties seal minority coalition led by Rob Jetten

Three Dutch parties have agreed to form a minority coalition that will install D66 leader Rob Jetten as the country’s youngest prime minister.

Leaders of political parties in the Netherlands said on Tuesday that they have agreed to form a rare minority government, ending weeks of negotiations following last October’s election.

The centrist pro-EU D66, which emerged as the election winner, will team up with the conservative Christian Democrats and the right-wing VVD in a coalition holding 66 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament.

The agreement creates a government that will rely on support from opposition parties, as it lacks a majority in both the lower house and the Senate.

The upper house can block legislation passed by parliament, meaning coalition partners will have to negotiate each major policy.

Rob Jetten, the 38-year-old leader of D66, will head the new government and is set to become the youngest prime minister in Dutch history.

The parties’ members of parliament will be asked to confirm the agreement in the coming days, with an official presentation of the coalition pact scheduled for Friday.

Further cabinet positions will be decided in the coming weeks, and the new government is expected to be formally installed within a month.

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