Why rush? Dutch government formation talks drag on for record 226 days

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte attends a debate over remarks he made during talks to form a new government following the March 17 national elections, in The Hague, Netherlands April 2, 2021. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/Files

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Government formation talks in the Netherlands on Friday became the longest on record, 226 days after the March 17 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.