Dutch cabinet in crisis after senate blocks health care reforms

The Dutch government got into a sudden and unexpected crisis on Wednesday after three senators from PvdA party blocked a health care law by Edith Schippers, minister of Health, Welfare and Sport from the VVD party.

A possible departure of Schippers or the cancellation of her health insurance reforms could, according to several Dutch media, mean an early end to the second cabinet of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, which came into power on November 5, 2012.

In a letter sent to the parliament on Wednesday Schippers said she will explain the consequences of the cancellation of the law at a later stage.

Three PvdA (Labor) senators voted on Tuesday against the new health care law, which was even surprising to their own party members in the government.

To make new or amend rules and laws the Dutch government not only needs a majority in the parliament, but also in the senate.

Contrary to the situation in the Tweede Kamer, the house of representatives, the current VVD (Liberals)/PvdA (Labor) coalition government doesn't have a majority in the Eerste Kamer, the senate, with 30 of the 75 seats.

However, Schippers had reached a deal with the democrats (D66) and two Christian parties (CU, SGP) to support the new law. This would mean a majority of 38 of the 75 seats in the senate. With three PvdA senators voting against the law the narrow majority turned into a minority.

For Schippers new health reforms are an important part of fundamentally changing the system, which could according to the minister lead to savings of one billion euros (1.25 billion U.S. dollars). She thinks competition between the health care insurers would improve the quality of care and also make it cheaper.

After the failure of the law in the senate on Tuesday afternoon, the crisis talks started until after midnight. PM Mark Rutte (VVD) consulted with party members and members of the Labor party in order to avert a crisis, without visible results yet.

On Wednesday the talks continued, not only between the parties but also separately, from which it can be concluded that a common solution is still far away. However, according to the national broadcaster NOS the three dissidents don't have the aim of causing the fall of the government.

Maybe the dissidents will change their minds or Schippers would accept small changes to the law, it was reported. Enditem