THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The process of forming a new Dutch governing coalition has started a day after Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s conservative VVD party powered to a fourth consecutive victory. Winning a vote held during a nationwide lockdown and dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic put Rutte in position to lead coalition talks, most likely with the centrist, pro-European D66 party. But those two parties will likely need at least two more partners to form a majority coalition. According to the national news agency ANP, based on 88% of votes counted, VVD won 35 of the 150 seats in the lower house of parliament while D66 garnered 24.
