THE HAGUE, Nov 11, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Efforts to form a workable Dutch government appeared deadlocked Tuesday after a mediator appointed to bring parties together failed to suggest a group that would have a majority in parliament.

Two weeks after centrist Rob Jetten swept to a surprise election win, the mediator said he should work with another centre-right party to plot a way forward.

The highly fragmented nature of Dutch politics means no one party wins enough seats to enjoy a solo majority in the 150-member parliament.

And Jetten's D66 party won with the fewest number of seats (26) in recent election history, making his path to a 76-seat majority even harder than usual.

Jetten's preference is a four-way grouping of his D66, the centre-right CDA (18 seats), the right-wing VDD (22 seats), and the left-wing Green/Labour party (20).

That coalition would have a comfortable majority of 86 seats.

But VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz has consistently refused to govern with the Green/Labour party and mediator Wouter Koolmees has been unable to bring them together.

Yesilgoz wants a right-wing coalition involving her VVD, the CDA, Jetten's D66, and the hard-right JA21 party, a surprise election success with nine seats.

That four-way group however would only have 75 seats, leaving it vulnerable to parliamentary blockages.

It would also leave Jetten -- the likely prime minister -- far to the political left of the rest of his government.

Koolmees, the "scout" named to solve this puzzle, suggested Jetten and CDA leader Henri Bontenbal -- the closest pairing politically -- first work together on policy issues.

"There appears to be broad support for forming a coalition with at least the CDA and D66, the two biggest winners in these elections," Koolmees told reporters.

Once the contours of a potential government policy is formed -- by December 9 -- the hope is that other parties would join.

All parties have voiced a wish to form a government quickly, but Koolmees has said it is unlikely to be in place by Christmas.

Finding a workable coalition is "extremely complicated" and a "complex puzzle", admitted Koolmees.

Until then, caretaker Dick Schoof is at the helm of the European Union's fifth-largest economy.

Koolmees is also leaving the process to go back to his day job of running the national railways.