King Willem-Alexander has sworn in a new Dutch minority coalition government, led by the youngest prime minister in the country’s history, who will need to use all his political skills to build bridges, pass legislation, and complete a full four-year mandate.
Rob Jetten, 38, will head a three-party administration composed of his centrist Democrats 66 (D66), the center-right Christian Democratic Appeal, and the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy.
Together, the parties hold just 66 of the 150 seats in the lower house of parliament, meaning Jetten will have to negotiate with opposition lawmakers to secure support for any legislation his government seeks to pass.
Jetten and his team of ministers were sworn in before the king in the ornate Orange Hall of the royal palace in a forest on the outskirts of The Hague, 117 days after the national elections.
Following the traditional cabinet photo on the palace steps, the new government is expected to begin work with its first cabinet meeting later in the afternoon.
