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Statement by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende after cabinet meeting, Saturday 20 February 2010

Newsflash | 1 March 2010

Later today I will tender the resignation of the Labour Party ministers and state secretaries to Her Majesty the Queen. I will also put the offices and portfolios of the other ministers and state secretaries at her disposal. As leader of the cabinet, I have regrettably had to conclude that there is no fruitful way forward for this coalition government of the Christian Democratic Alliance, Labour Party and Christian Union.

In recent days you have been able to observe that unity was undermined by the rigid stance taken by some members of the government. By statements that are at odds with recent government decisions of which the House of Representatives has been informed. These statements placed too high a price tag on continuing to work together as colleagues. They have prevented us from giving due consideration to our men and women in Afghanistan, and to our relations with our NATO partners.

At today’s cabinet meeting we explored whether trust could be restored. Reaffirmation of the agreements that we made 10 days ago and that we set out in our letter to the House of Representatives would have laid a basis for continued cooperation. The responsible ministers could then have made a proposal that would have satisfied the entire government – by 1 March, if possible.

For a minority of the cabinet, this proved to be a bridge too far. Without trust, any attempt to agree on matters of substance is doomed to failure. At best it would have been the prelude to fresh controversies in the future. Especially in view of the challenges facing the Netherlands – which call for firm resolve rather than taking the easy option.

A government’s survival can never be an end in itself. The jobs and prosperity of the Dutch people must come first – now and in the future. And also the contribution that the Netherlands can reasonably make to a better world. That was the intention of my colleagues and myself three years ago when the government took office. Collectively and individually, we regard the fact that we have fallen short as a defeat. But that does not alter the facts of the situation or the conclusion that we have had to draw.

The consequences of the government crisis for the mission in Uruzgan

The fourth Balkenende government was unable to agree on whether the Netherlands’ military involvement in ISAF after December 2010 should continue. For that reason, the Labour Party ministers and state secretaries have tendered their resignation, and the Christian Democrat and Christian Union ministers and state secretaries have indicated their readiness to give up their portfolios.

It is not yet possible to say when a decision can be taken on a future Dutch military contribution after 2010. This will have to be decided as soon as it is known on what basis the caretaker government will continue its activities. For the time being, the decision on the Dutch mission in Uruzgan that was taken in 2007 remains in force.

This means that:

- the Netherlands will give up its lead responsibility in the province of Uruzgan on 1 August; NATO or NATO allies will have to decide which country will take over that responsibility;

- the Task Force will be withdrawn from Uruzgan between August and November; the last soldier will have left by December.

A government decision on a military contribution to ISAF after 2010 is likely to be politically controversial and must therefore wait until a new government has taken office. The same will probably apply to a decision on the future deployment of F-16s, helicopters and headquarters staff, and on the stationing of development workers and diplomats outside of Kabul.

In the coming weeks the Netherlands will consult with NATO and its NATO allies to pave the way for the transfer of its lead responsibility for Uruzgan.

In addition, NATO and our allies will quickly be informed of the situation, once the consequences of the government’s collapse in the Netherlands have been clarified.