Netherlands moves towards forming'mixed' government of politicians and technocrats. After his electoral victory last November, nationalist Geert Wilders failed to form a government.
Wilders announced Wednesday evening that he was giving up - for the moment - his attempt to lead the fifth largest economy in the European Union. The last government of "experts" in the Netherlands dates from 1918, but the concept of government of technocrats is familiar to other European countries, notably Italy. The four party leaders, including Wilders, agreed to retain their positions as MPs and not to accept ministerial positions.