The crisis around the caretaker cabinet deepened on Monday as left-wing opposition parties threatened to table a no-confidence motion over the government’s Israel policy, while D66 leader Rob Jetten called for a “cabinet of national unity” led by non-partisan figures.

The cabinet has been reduced to the VVD and BBB after NSC pulled out last week over disagreements on Gaza.

Together with non-partisan prime minister Dick Schoof, the two remaining parties hold just 32 seats in parliament. They plan to present names this week to replace the nine NSC ministers and junior ministers who resigned, but many MPs question whether such a small base can govern.

Left-wing parties, including GroenLinks-PvdA and the SP, have warned they are prepared to bring down the remaining VVD and BBB ministers if no new sanctions against Israel are announced, the AD said on Tuesday.

SP leader Jimmy Dijk said “the question of trust will be on the table” if Schoof fails to act, while GroenLinks-PvdA has called for trade restrictions and a total arms embargo.

Jetten, however, has said it would be “very unwise” for VVD and BBB to fill the vacancies themselves. Instead, he proposed that experienced administrators be asked to step in.

Former prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, ex-minister Winnie Sorgdrager and former Nato secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as examples of people who could provide stability, the Telegraaf quoted Jetten as saying.

The remaining coalition parties VVD and BBB have so far resisted that idea, insisting they will fill the posts themselves. BBB minister Mona Keijzer said after a meeting with Schoof on Monday that the parties must act “quickly, very quickly” to share out the vacant portfolios, which have temporarily been combined under a handful of ministers.

She is currently responsible for housing, asylum and migration, and now also social affairs and employment. Her VVD counterpart Sophie Hermans said the parties were motivated by “a tremendous sense of responsibility.”

King Willem-Alexander met Schoof and parliamentary leaders on Monday, stressing that the cabinet must be able to perform “all that is necessary in the public interest.”

Elections

With elections scheduled for 29 October and coalition talks expected to take months, the current government, or a replacement, is likely to remain in place well into 2026.

MPs are due to debate the crisis on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the remaining ministers have begun talks on putting together their budgets for 2026, before finance minister Eelco Heinen delivers the budget bill on September 16.