The new cabinet could be sworn in as early as the end of next week, now two dissident Christian Democrat MPs have dropped their opposition to the right-wing alliance, most papers report on Wednesday.

Negotiator Ivo Opstelten is expected to report back to queen Beatrix on Thursday on efforts to form a ‘stable government’. This will open the way for the queen to appoint VVD leader Mark Rutte as formateur – or prime minister designate. He will then appoint ministers.
According to the Telegraaf, the ministeries have already been divided up between the CDA and right-wing VVD. The anti-Islam PVV will support the minority coalition in parliament but is not technically part of the government and will not supply ministers.
However, PVV leader Geert Wilders told BNR radio he had been consulted about who should have ministerial positions.
Ministers
The NRC says the VVD will take charge of social affairs, environment and transport (which are being merged), foreign affairs, health and justice. The CDA will take finance, economic affairs (including farming), defence, home affairs, education and justice, and immigration and integration.
The paper says CDA leader Maxime Verhagen is tipped to take over at economic affairs and Jan Kees de Jager will remain at finance. Education may go to Marja van Bijsterveldt and the current social affairs minister Piet Hein Donner may go to home affairs.
For the VVD, Edith Schippers is set to get the health job while former European MP Hans van Baalen will take charge at foreign affairs. Ivo Opstelten is tipped to take over at the justice ministry, which may be renamed ‘security’.
As well as 11 full ministers, Rutte is expected to appoint eight junior ministers who will not be part of the cabinet but will have particular roles within the ministries, such as sport.
A week
The process of appointing ministers is expected to take about a week, because they first have to be screened by the AIVD security service.
But by next Thursday, the ministers could be ready to pose for the traditional photo with the queen on the steps of her official residence.
The Netherlands has been without effective government since the previous administration collapsed in February. The general election was held on June 9.