THE HAGUE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of four Dutch parties reached a draft deal Monday on a coalition government after 208 days of negotiations.
The new coalition will consist of the rightist liberals People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the Christian democrats Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the leftist liberals Democrats 66 (D66) and the small Christian Union (CU).
VVD leader Mark Rutte, also the Dutch prime minister, told the press that a deal had been struck after meeting with negotiators from other parties in the Binnenhof, which houses the Dutch parliament in The Hague. "I am very happy," he said.
The deal will be studied by all lawmakers of the four parties and the details of the deal are expected to be unveiled on Tuesday.
"We reached a deal which I will offer to my party members," said CDA leader Sybrand Van Haersma Buma.
D66 leader Alexander Pechtold also voiced his satisfaction about the agreement, saying, "I am satisfied, it is a solid, balanced deal."
"I have a very positive feeling," said CU leader Gert-Jan Segers. "Our Members of Parliament will now decide, but I have a positive feeling about that. It is about giving and taking, but I am satisfied with the deal as a whole."
