The Albany Gazette - New Dutch government pledges ongoing Ukraine support

The 79-page manifesto was the result of a hard-fought agreement hammered out by three political parties and steered by prime minister-designate Rob Jetten.

"The fight in Ukraine is about the security of the whole of Europe," said the document entitled "Getting to Work".

"So we are continuing our own multi-year financial and military support and we will continue to argue for the use of frozen Russian assets," the manifesto said.

The new administration pledged to anchor in law the NATO defence spending minimum of 3.5 percent of economic output pushed by US President Donald Trump.

Jetten, a charismatic 38-year-old from the centrist D66 party, will now form a cabinet, aiming to be sworn in by mid-February.

He is on course to become the youngest leader of the European Union's fifth-largest economy and the first to be openly gay.

Jetten led his party to a stunning election victory in October, narrowly defeating the far-right Freedom Party headed by firebrand anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders.

The fragmented nature of the Dutch political system means lengthy coalition haggling follows an election.

Jetten finally clinched a deal with two centre-right parties but will not enjoy a majority in parliament, meaning the government will need the support of other parties to pass legislation.

"Today we are setting a new course for our country," a beaming Jetten told reporters.

(F.Jackson--TAG)