Trend Political fragmentation and longer caretaker periods

Summary

The report finds that political fragmentation has become a clear trend in the Netherlands. It is visible not only nationally but also in municipalities and provinces. The rise of many small parties and parliamentary groups in the House of Representatives and in local and regional councils makes negotiations more complex, lengthens the formation of executives and makes governance less stable. As a result, periods of caretaker cabinets and executives are growing longer. The report explains that this makes it harder to tackle complex issues with a long time horizon. Elsewhere the report links this to declining institutional trust, which draws voters to parties that question the established order, shifts power blocs in parliament and makes stable coalition formation harder.