Dutch media report that two left-wing parties could form a bloc to get around the impasse that has so far prevented the formation of a new government.

Sources have told NOS that the labour PvdA would be prepared to form an official bloc with GroenLinks, the green-left party, so that a government could be formed of effectively four parties rather than five.

A five-party coalition, which would have a majority in the lower and upper houses of parliament, is reportedly considered too vulnerable.

It is not expected that the two left-wing parties, who only wish to be in government if they are together, will fuse completely. But D66, the liberal democratic party which is likely to be the second-largest government group, has said it prefers to govern with them in a left-leaning coalition.

Mark Rutte’s VVD and the Christian Democratic Appeal CDA said from the start of formation negotiations that they do not want to have a five-party government, because only four parties are actually necessary for a majority.

Elections were held in March and the contenders for government are currently discussing behind closed doors a potential coalition agreement put together by the VVD and D66. The last governent, composed of four parties (the VVD, D66, CDA and ChristenUnie), took a record 225 days to put together in 2017.