Overview
- The municipality of Steenbergen says its local PVV branch has reached a coalition agreement with De Volkspartij and the VVD that will put PVV representatives in the municipal executive.
- Initial formation talks in Steenbergen previously collapsed after De Volkspartij withdrew, citing a lack of trust and a dispute over the asylum portfolio with the PVV.
- The municipality says the coalition agreement will be presented next week and that the new aldermen will be installed the day after the presentation.
- The Steenbergen deal follows recent PVV entry into other town executives including Rucphen, Papendrecht and Pekela, with Pekela’s local PVV reported to have split from the national party.
- Holding wethouder (alderman) posts gives the PVV direct control over local portfolios and budgets, which could change local approaches to issues such as asylum reception, housing and public services, while some municipalities have still chosen to exclude the party.