Duties of the formateur

The formateur is the individual who is likely to become the new prime minister. He or she concludes the formation talks.

The formateur will then look for people who are eligible to become minister or state secretary on behalf of the coalition parties. The division of the "portfolio's", the policy areas of the ministers and state secretaries, is based on the number of seats of the parliamentary groups.

When the team is complete, the new cabinet holds a so-called constituent assembly, where the ministers must state that they agree with the coalition agreement. Subsequently, the Head of State swears in the ministers and state secretaries.