‘A lot of work to do’: Dutch government formation talks drag on for record 226 days

Prime minister Mark Rutte, who needs support of three junior parties for majority, has indicated that there is no compromise in sight

Government formation talks in the Netherlands have become the longest on record, 226 days after the 17 March elections delivered a fractured political landscape that made parties more reluctant than ever to compromise.

Dutch government coalitions often take months to form, but this year's post-election talks have been especially drawn out. For months, parties failed to even move beyond the question of who would be allowed at the negotiation table.