Breaking Record For Longest Discussion, PM Mark Rutte Hopes That The New Dutch Government Can Be Sworn In On January 10

JAKARTA - The new Dutch government is expected to be sworn in on January 10, nearly 10 months after the last election, a statement released by Prime Minister Mark Rutte's office said on Thursday.

Political parties earlier this month agreed the details of their governing pact, after the longest negotiations in Dutch history, citing Reuters December 30.

The coalition will consist of the four parties that have been in power since 2017, but it took nearly 300 days to reunite them after the March 17 elections yielded inconclusive results.

PM Rutte is expected to lead his fourth consecutive government as prime minister, making him the longest-serving government leader in the European Union along with Hungary's Viktor Orban.

It is known that PM Rutte, who took office in 2010, will also become the longest-serving prime minister in Dutch history, as he will surpass Ruud Lubbers in August next year.

Documents show Wopke Hoekstra will not return as finance minister in the new government, as the position shifts from his Christian-Democratic CDA to the pro-EU D66 party, the second largest of the four governing party candidates after Rutte's conservative VVD.

Meanwhile, former foreign minister Sigrid Kaag is expected to be nominated as the new finance minister, Dutch broadcaster RTL said Thursday.