Netherlands: Maxime Verhagen, diplomatic, screwed and political strategist could very well become Wilders worst nightmare

Maxime Verhagen, appointed new parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Party (CDA), following the worst defeat the party had ever suffered  in Dutch general elections, reducing the CDA party in the country from no 1 to 4th, is a man to be reckoned with..

People who know Verhagen well say this diplomatic, screwed and clever Verhagen could very well become the worst nightmare for Geert Wilders in the new Dutch minority coalition

Verhagen was born in Maastricht. on September 14, 1956. He studied at Leiden University where he obtained an M.A. in history in 1986. For a brief period during his college years, Verhagen affiliated both with leftish-radicalism and the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He joined the CDA in 1976. So far during his career he occupied several local and national government positions and was the minister of foreign affairs in the last Balkenende Government

Today around 4,500 party members gathered in Arnhem to decide whether to accept the governing agreements drawn up by CDA leader Maxime Verhagen for this minority coalition with the conservative VVD supported in parliament by Geert Wilders' anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV). Two agreements were negotiated. One is the coalition agreement between the VVD and the CDA and the other sets out the terms under which the PVV will support the coalition.

This particular CDA congress, which made it possible for the membership to speak out and vote on the validity of the agreements, already can be seen as a democratic bonus point for the CDA and the public at large, in comparison with Geert Wilders "one man show",  full of  populist, nationalistic, anti-religious "sound-bites", without any substance.  While the CDA congress was going on in Arnhem, Wilders was in Berlin where he was invited by former Berlin Christian Democratic Union member René Stadkewitz, who is engaged in forming his own party, Die Freiheit (Freedom). Geert Wilders has been the main inspiration of the German project says René Stadkewitz and was a guest speaker.

During the CDA Arnhem Congress many prominent Christian Democrats and party members argued against any form of cooperation with the Wilders Freedom Party. Among the dissidents, two former prime ministers, and past and present cabinet ministers. When as expected the party comes out in favor of the political deal today, some party members and officials are warning that the remaining strong opposition within the CDA could immediately threaten the stability of the new government which, including the support of Wilders his party, only has a majority of just one seat in parliament.

Contrary, however, to the belief of many political in-and-outsiders, and comments in the Dutch press, this might not be the case.

The  new coalition not only turns Geert Wilders into a "king maker", but also makes Maxime Verhagen a "power player" to be reckoned with. Verhagen, who represents the smallest party within this three party  "political marriage of convenience", can now not only publicly expose the PVV of  Geert Wilders as an unreliable partner, but also put pressure on the inexperienced Mark Rutte and his VVD to comply with some of the wishes of the CDA. If he plays the game right Verhagen could even pull his party the CDA out of the slump they are in now, and make them shine again in the next election.

The most important question, however,  that remains in this scenario, and that time can only tell will be,  whom of the three partners will be the one who eventually steps out of this new political "marriage of convenience" first and becomes the big winner in the next Dutch national election?  Don't be surprised if it turns out to be the CDA of Maxime Verhagen.

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