Zutphen kicks off coalition talks with veteran mediator Paul Smit at the helm
Zutphen residents can expect political shifts as GroenLinks-PvdA, the largest party after recent elections, starts coalition talks. Veteran mediator Paul Smit will guide the process, aiming to form a new municipal executive within weeks.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Appointed Informateur | Paul Smit |
| Role | Director of Network Management at Rijkswaterstaat Noord-Nederland |
| Party Initiating | GroenLinks-PvdA Zutphen (largest party after elections) |
| Location | Zutphen, Gelderland |
| Process Duration | 2 weeks |
| Next Step | Public presentation of findings and recommendations |
| Representative | Max van Tongeren, GroenLinks-PvdA Zutphen |
The municipal council of Zutphen plays a crucial role in local governance, overseeing policies and services that directly impact residents' daily lives. As the largest party post-election, GroenLinks-PvdA is responsible for initiating coalition talks to form a stable and representative municipal executive.
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external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
Paul Smit appointed as informateur, the information phase begins
On Monday evening, 23 March 2026, GroenLinks-PvdA Zutphen, represented by Max van Tongeren, announced the start of the information phase. The party, which emerged as the largest from last Wednesday’s elections, has proposed Paul Smit as informateur.
Paul Smit has been tasked with conducting exploratory talks with the political parties in the Zutphen municipal council. These discussions will pave the way for the formation of a new coalition and a new municipal executive.
“Working together for the best interests of residents”
Max van Tongeren: “In recent weeks, the differences between the parties have become clearer, and that is a good thing: residents need to know what each party stands for. At the same time, we share a common mission: to do what is best for Zutphen – for our residents. This requires genuine listening, curiosity about each other’s ideas, and a willingness to build bridges.
As the largest party, we feel the responsibility to help lead this process for a progressive city, with the aim of reaching a coalition agreement that enjoys broad support and reflects the diversity of our society.”
Max van Tongeren
The information process
The information phase is an initial exploration and begins this week. During this round of exploratory talks, the informateur will assess which political combinations and substantive lines have potential for forming a new municipal executive.
The informateur is expected to need two weeks for this task. After that, he will present his findings and recommendations at a public meeting.
About Paul Smit
GroenLinks-PvdA Zutphen has asked Paul Smit to guide the information process. Max van Tongeren: “With Paul, we have a highly experienced facilitator who will assist us. He has the ability to build connections, listen carefully, and bridge conflicting positions in a constructive way. I have great confidence in him.”
Paul Smit lives in Vorden and works as Director of Network Management at Rijkswaterstaat Noord-Nederland. He has extensive experience in guiding complex processes.