The Schoof cabinet has been in a caretaker status since June 3, 2025. The Senate is assessing which legislative proposals it can still address due to the caretaker status of the cabinet. The party leaders in the Senate decided this on Tuesday, June 10. This is customary after a cabinet becomes caretaker. Parties can propose legislative proposals they want to have declared controversial. A majority of votes is needed for declaring something controversial. The party leaders have agreed to decide on this during the plenary session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 8.
When a cabinet has become caretaker, the Senate determines, upon the proposal of one or more members, which legislative proposals and topics should be classified as controversial. Those legislative proposals and topics are declared controversial if it can reasonably be expected that treatment by another cabinet will lead to a different outcome. This involves a political consideration in which, in each case, a significant minority of the members of the Chamber has the right to speak.
On Tuesday, July 8, an overview of the proposed legislative proposals will be scheduled in the College of party leaders and that same day placed on the plenary agenda for decision-making. The President of the Senate will then propose to declare those legislative proposals controversial that appear to have the support of a majority. Members can request a vote on the controversial declaration of a specific proposal if desired. Once the caretaker status of the cabinet has lapsed, the controversial status of the legislative proposals and topics also lapses.