Rob Jetten Edges Closer to Becoming Netherlands' First Openly Gay Prime Minister After Coalition Breakthrough

The Netherlands is poised for a historic shift in leadership as Rob Jetten, the openly gay leader of the social-liberal Democrats 66 party, advances toward becoming prime minister. At 38 years old, Jetten would be the youngest person to hold the office and the first openly gay prime minister in the country's history.

The breakthrough came in late January 2026, when D66 finalized coalition talks with the centre-right Christian Democratic Appeal and the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . This agreement in principle positions Jetten to lead a minority government, with formal approval and cabinet appointments expected in the coming weeks. Together, the three parties control 66 seats in the 150-seat lower house and 21 in the 76-seat senate, falling ten seats short of a majority.

This development follows the fragmented October 2025 general election, where pre-election polls had favored far-right leader Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom . D66 outperformed expectations, particularly in major cities, providing Jetten the leverage to spearhead government formation. Minority governments are uncommon in Dutch politics, meaning Jetten's administration would need to secure opposition support for each legislative proposal. PVV has refused cooperation after seven of its lawmakers split earlier this month.

On January 30, 2026, Jetten unveiled the coalition's 79-page manifesto, titled "Getting to Work," outlining priorities including housing affordability, migration management, increased defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, and firm support for Ukraine. The document commits to multi-year financial and military aid for Kyiv and advocacy for using frozen Russian assets, stating, "The fight in Ukraine is about the security of the whole of Europe." Jetten ruled out talks with Russia, telling AFP, "There are currently no indications that Russia wants to end the war in Ukraine. And as long as the aggression continues, we will continue our support for the Ukrainian people."

Jetten's prospective leadership carries symbolic weight for LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. The Netherlands, a pioneer in LGBTQ+ rights as the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, has never had an openly gay prime minister until potentially now. Jetten has emphasized a positive campaign message, stating, "It is possible to beat populist movements if you campaign with a positive message for your country." He is engaged to Nicolas Keenan, an Argentine-born Olympic hockey player who identifies as bisexual, with the couple planning to marry in 2027; their public relationship has drawn attention as one of Europe's prominent same-sex couples.

Jetten also addressed international tensions, calling U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in Greenland a "wake-up call" for Europe to enhance self-reliance in security and prosperity. He advocated for stronger European cooperation over complaints about U.S. policies. The coalition plans to boost defence spending by €19 billion. Formal swearing-in is targeted for mid-February 2026, pending parliamentary backing. This event underscores the Netherlands' progressive stance amid global populist challenges, with Jetten's visibility offering affirmation to LGBTQ+ individuals in politics.