The China Mail - Wilders gets until Feb to convince others to form Dutch govt

Wilders delivered a political earthquake in the Netherlands and across Europe last month by handily winning elections and putting his PVV Freedom Party in pole position to form a government.

Unlike Britain and the United States for example, the Netherlands has a hugely fragmented political system that means no one party ever enjoys a parliamentary majority.

Wilders has struggled to convince other party leaders to join a government, as they are put off by elements of his party's manifesto seen as unconstitutional, such as banning mosques and the Koran.

The far-right firebrand wants a four-way coalition of his PVV, the BBB farmers party, the centre-right VVD liberal party and the New Social Contract (NSC) party that was formed only in August.

Ronald Plasterk, the "scout" Wilders appointed to shuttle between party leaders to scope out who is prepared to work with whom, delivered his long-awaited report to parliament Monday.

Plasterk advised first appointing another official known as an "informateur".

This person would oversee talks to see whether Wilders's preferred four parties could agree on a "common basis for safeguarding the Constitution, basic rights and the democratic constitutional state".

If doubts over Wilders's commitment to upholding the Dutch constitution can be overcome, then the parties can move onto the next step -- examining five key policy areas.

These areas are immigration; social policy including cost of living and health; good governance and stable public finances; foreign policy; and climate and environmental policy.

Discussions should take place in December and January, with a new report to parliament "no later than early February", according to Plasterk's report.

- 'Nexit' referendum? -

Asked by reporters if he thought the parties could overcome their differences, Plasterk said: "I think they can and I even think they should."

"The country needs to be governed."

He dismissed the idea of possible new elections.

"I think that everyone... thinks it would not be acceptable to go back to the voters and tell them you voted wrongly and you have to vote again," Plasterk said.

Wilders toned down most of his more extreme rhetoric during the campaign and vowed to be a premier "for all Dutch people" after his election win, but doubts remain.

He told journalists during the swearing-in of new MPs last week that "nobody needs to be afraid of us" as the largest party in the lower house of parliament.

It also remains to be seen whether Wilders is an acceptable prime minister, given his past statements on Islam and the European Union.

His PVV manifesto calls for a referendum on whether the Netherlands -- one of the founding members of the European Union -- should leave the bloc, a so-called "Nexit".

The Dutch will probably be waiting several months before they get a government.

Only if the constitutional stumbling blocks are overcome will the substantive talks start on forming a coalition agreement -- another lengthy process.

During the talks, Mark Rutte remains prime minister. His last cabinet collapsed over immigration and he announced he was leaving politics after a record 13 years at the helm.

The last Rutte government took 271 days to form.

Q.Yam--ThChM