On the 23rd of this month, the Netherlands inaugurated its youngest Prime Minister ever, Joost Yetten, who leads the centrist party Democrats 66 (D66), which emerged as the top party in the lower house elections held last October. This coalition government consists of three centrist parties but fails to secure a majority, raising concerns about potential challenges in governance. During the swearing-in ceremony at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, Yetten and his newly appointed ministers pledged their commitment to leading the country.

Yetten, who has a background in the railway infrastructure sector, transitioned to politics in 2022 when he was appointed Minister of Climate and Energy Policy. He has publicly shared aspects of his personal life, including his engagement to a male partner set for the year 2024, marking a significant milestone in the Netherlands' progressive narrative surrounding LGBTQ+ representation in government. His candidacy symbolizes a generational shift in leadership and may influence the national discourse on various societal issues.

The new government aims to increase defense spending in line with NATO's goal of 3.5% of the GDP amid global tensions, while also expressing intentions to significantly reduce healthcare and social security expenditures to manage fiscal burdens. The balancing act between increasing defense capabilities and cutting social expenditures reflects the complexities the Yetten administration will navigate in pursuit of its policy objectives, especially as it operates without a commanding majority in parliament, potentially complicating the legislative process further.