'Millionaire tax' dispute leaves Dutch government on brink of collapse

The Dutch government is facing a crisis as it prepares for a crucial tax vote on Thursday. Two of the three coalition parties, the centrist D66 party led by Prime Minister Rob Jetten and the center-right Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), have reached an agreement with progressive opposition parties PRO and Volt to shift approximately €1 billion in tax from wealth to income.

This deal is a crucial demand from PRO, the largest opposition party. However, the third party in the coalition, the center-right VVD, has been left out of the negotiations. VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz expressed her surprise and disappointment with the deal, stating it goes against the coalition agreement and threatening to reconsider cooperation with her coalition partners.

The D66 and CDA parties have reaffirmed their commitment to the deal, leaving the VVD in a difficult position. If the D66 and CDA vote in favor of PRO and Volt in Thursday's parliamentary ballot, it could lead to further questions about the future of the coalition. The D66-VVD-CDA coalition holds a minority position, controlling 66 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 22 out of 75 seats in the Senate. It is a rare occurrence in modern Dutch politics.