Dutch government holds weekend crisis talks to stave off collapse

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten extended crisis talks with his coalition partners over the weekend to stave off a government collapse, after an hours-long meeting on Friday failed to reach a consensus.The crisis stems from disagreements between Jetten's centrist D66, centre-right CDA and right-wing VVD over the country's budget plans.The already fragile unity in Jetten's Cabinet took a hit this week when lawmakers from his centrist D66 party and the center-right Christian Democrats (CDA) agreed to amendments proposed by two center-left opposition parties — PRO and Volt — to push a tax package through the Dutch parliament in a tight vote Thursday night after a daylong debate.But the terms of the deal — PRO's leader Jesse Klaver repeatedly called part of the agreement a “millionaire's tax” — enraged the VVD.The proposal aims to apply a higher tax of 38.5% on returns above €60,000, for example from interest earned on savings or investments. Anyone who makes less than €60,000 in profit from assets would not have to pay this higher rate.The crisis erupted when the plan was passed by parliament after it had clinched support from left-wing parties to push through the tax deal. The VVD, however, voted against the government's own tax plan, with party leader Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius saying she had been blindsided.VVD calls minority coalition a 'failed experiment'Following more…