Coalition negotiator Edith Schippers told reporters on Thursday she had warned party leaders that the Netherlands may end up with a minority cabinet if none of them are prepared to move forward in the negotiations to form a new administration.

This makes it crucial for the parties to take a step forward, Schippers said, adding that ‘it will not be simple, but it is necessary’. Without movement, the Netherlands may have a minority cabinet ‘and that is not what anyone wants,’ Schippers said.

She will meet the leaders of all the parties represented in parliament again on Friday and has called on them all to ‘leave your comfort zone’

Talks on two different coalition combinations have failed so far. The Netherlands has had a caretaker government since the general election on March 15.

The most likely minority cabinet would be a combination of the VVD, Christian Democrats and D66.

‘This appeal from Schippers on a public holiday shows that the talks really are deadlocked,’ RTL news political correspondent Frits Wester said. ‘But a minority cabinet would not be a disaster for the country. It might even work well given the enormous divisions in parliament.’