formeeren

Formeren is a Dutch verb meaning to form or to establish, but in political usage it denotes the process of forming a government or cabinet after elections. The term is common in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders) and is closely connected to the nounformatie, or coalition formation. In practice, formeren refers to the negotiations and arrangements that lead to a governing majority and a functioning executive.

The formatie typically unfolds through a sequence of political mediation roles. After an election, an informateur may be appointed to explore possible coalitions and to map out viable paths to a majority in the legislature. If a plausible route is found, a formateur is appointed to lead the negotiations, propose a cabinet, and draft the coalition agreement. The proposed cabinet and its program are then presented to the legislature for confidence, and the cabinet must win the support of the majority to take office. If no stable coalition can be formed, the election may be followed by a new round of negotiations or, in some cases, new elections.

The length and complexity of formatie periods vary and are influenced by party fragmentation, policy differences, and procedural conventions. The process is not fixed by the constitution but governed by political practice and constitutional conventions. In addition to national government formation, formatie can occur at regional or municipal levels, where local coalitions are negotiated in a similar fashion.

Etymologically, formeeren derives from form- and -eren, linked to words such as forming and formation.

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