Tasks of the informateur

It is the informateur’s task to explore the various options for a new Cabinet. He examines which parties are able and ready to form a new Cabinet and any obstacles which have to be overcome.

The scope of the assignment given to the informateur depends on the polling results. If two parties have a majority and they agree with each other, the informateur will have a limited role. All the recommendations made to the Queen are handed over to the informateur, who subsequently enters into consultations with politicians, experts and, of course, with the leaders of the political parties that could possibly form a Cabinet. He presents a report to the Queen on the formation of a Cabinet that is likely to be successful. The House of Representatives may ask the informateur to explain aspects of his report in a debate in the House.

Coalition
There are a multitude of political parties in the Netherlands. Never in Dutch parliamentary history has a single party obtained more than 50% of the votes. Consequently, parties must cooperate and form a coalition government. Parties that are not included in the coalition constitute the opposition.

Majority in the House of Representatives
All the Dutch Cabinets since WO II have been coalition Cabinets, supported by two or more political groups, who together have had a majority in the House of Representatives.

The Coalition Agreement
The scope of the assignment given to the informateur may involve the drafting of a Coalition Agreement. Sometimes a new informateur is appointed for this task. The informateur negotiates with the coalition parties about the common goals and the key policy themes of the future Cabinet. When they have reached an agreement, the coalition parties set out the arrangements in a so-called Coalition Agreement. The new Cabinet is bound by the Coalition Agreement and has to implement concrete policy measures over the coming years, on the basis of the agreements set out in the Coalition Agreement.