Just one in five of the Dutch population backs the cabinet’s decision to go ahead with a €6bn austerity package next year, according to the latest Maurice de Hond opinion poll.

And support for the two coalition parties is still down by more than half since the September 2012 general election, the poll shows.

The government is being forced to make new cuts in order to meet eurozone budget deficit rules. However, some 50% think the coalition should not make any more spending reductions and 30% think less than €6bn is a better option.

Budget

The details of the cuts are being worked out and will be presented in September.

Despite the lack of support for more cuts, the online survey shows only 41% of those polled want new elections and 20% would like to see new coalition negotiations.

The poll puts the two coalition parties – the right-wing VVD and Labour party (PvdA) on just 35 seats out of 150 between them.

The current poll favourite is Geert Wilders’ anti-immigration party PVV on 30 seats followed by the Socialists on 23. The PVV total is double its general election haul.