RNW

Labour leader Job Cohen has called on all progressive parties and organisations to attend an event against Prime Minister Mark Rutte's centre-right government. The gathering, to be held in Amsterdam's Brakke Grond on 16 January, aims to present "a different view".

Mr Cohen wants all opposition parties to form single front against the cabinet, which comprises the pro-business VVD and the Christian Democrat CDA party and is backed in parliament by Geert Wilders' anti-Islam PVV party. "This is not how we do things in the Netherlands. Things can be done differently", Mr Cohen told the newspaper De Volkskrant.

Green Left, the Socialist Party and Democrats 66 have agreed to join the gathering. The Christian Union was willing to participate but won't because the event is held on a Sunday. A number of organisations will also attend, including the FNV and CNV unions, the religious organisation IKV and charity Cordaid.

The gathering will feature performances by a number of artists, including Hind, Victoria Koblenko and Jan Mulder.