The process of forming a new government begins immediately after a parliamentary election. This process lays the foundations for the policies the new government will pursue.
Procedure for forming a government
There are no rules laid down in the Constitution on the procedure for forming a government. The Constitution deals only with the beginning and the end of the process: the dismissal of the old government and the appointment of the new government by the monarch. This means the formation procedure is based mainly on unwritten constitutional law and custom. So the procedure may differ from the last time a government was formed. As a rule, however, each formation process contains roughly the following steps:
On the day after the election the President of the House of Representatives meets with the incoming parliamentary party leaders. Together, they appoint an individual to begin discussions with each party leader to establish which parties could potentially form a coalition. This person also prepares the parliamentary debate on the election outcome.
The parliamentary debate on the election outcome must take place within one week of the installation of the new House of Representatives. In this debate the House formulates a mandate and appoints a mediator, known as an informateur. In the past informateurs were appointed by the monarch. The informateur’s precise mandate depends on the election outcome.
It is also possible for the House to skip this exploratory stage and proceed immediately to the formation stage. In this case the House will appoint a formateur to put together the new government.
The informateur’s role
The informateur explores which parties could form a new government. He or she must carry out this task strictly in line with the House’s mandate.
The informateur then helps the parties negotiate the new government's policy plans. The House may also appoint a new informateur to perform this role.
Coalition agreement
One of the informateur’s key tasks is to draft a coalition agreement setting out the new government’s main policy objectives.
After the informateur has completed these tasks, the House appoints a formateur proposed by the informateur.
The formateur’s role
The formateur is responsible for putting together the new government. In most cases the formateur will become the new prime minister. He or she concludes the discussions and divides up the ministerial portfolios. Next he or she seeks out the individuals from the coalition parties who will serve as ministers or state secretaries.
Once the team is complete, the members of the new government attend an inaugural meeting. Each minister and state secretary confirms their support for the coalition agreement, after which they are sworn in by the King.
Government statement of policy on taking office
The new government drafts a statement of policy which covers the main elements of the coalition agreement. The prime minister delivers the statement in a speech to the House of Representatives.
Caretaker government
A government assumes ‘caretaker’ status once it, or the prime minister, has submitted a letter of resignation to the King. The caretaker government continues to govern until a new government is appointed, but deals only with ongoing business. It does not deal with any politically sensitive (i.e. controversial) issues. The Senate and the House of Representatives decide which issues are controversial.
