The Dutch coalition government tripped over the possible extension of the Netherlands' deployment in Afghanistan, but much more was at play between its two biggest members, CDA and Labour. In the final phase, distrust, loss of face and electoral considerations drove the parties apart. The distrust between Christian democratic prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and his foreign minister Maxime Verhagen on one end and Labour leader and deputy prime minister Wouter Bos on the other had become to big to continue.

Before what would prove to be the last meeting of this cabinet on Friday, both sides had made it clear where they stood on the issue of keeping Dutch soldiers in the Afghan province Uruzgan and how they felt about each other. Christian democrat CDA cabinet members had declared they were the responsible party that wanted to govern the country and it was Labour that was out to topple the government. Bos had said he wanted to keep his promise to voters and withdraw all troops by the end of this year and CDA had to show it would do the same, no later than Friday .

This war of words is sure to continue in the run-up to the early elections that should now be issued by May. But no one seems to gain from the government's collapse.

No undisputed alternative

Overall, the political system has suffered a loss in esteem. The Netherlands' international reputation will diminish. And none of the involved parties seem to win.

The days of Jan Peter Balkenende as the leader of the country's biggest party seem numbered. He was the prime minister in four different cabinets, not one of which served an entire four year term. No obvious successor has been appointed within its party and a struggle for the leadership could damage its credibility. But as long is there is no undisputed alternative, Balkenende might just live up to his reputation as a stubborn politician and rally his party around him again.

Junior coalition party ChristenUnie loses, because the small party is bound to be sent back to the opposition benches. The orthodox Christian cabinet members took the middle position on the issue of Afghanistan, just like they have other times the bigger parties collided. The party agreed with Labour that the mission in Afghanistan should be terminated, but it supported CDA in it wish to follow procedure and rejected Bos' Friday deadline to reach a decision.

A fascinating question

Labour loses because its leader, Bos, has been damaged. He will be held responsible for abandoning the international community in Afghanistan and blowing up the government at a time of economic crisis. The party leadership must have assessed this loss is bearable. Bos' supporters will appreciate he stuck to his principles. He has proven he can fight back in an election campaign, but then so has Balkenende.

The two have had strong disagreements over many issues during their three years in office together. While the atmosphere amongst other members of the cabinet was not bad at all, the leaders often could not see eye to eye. It raises a fascinating question: could a CDA-Labour coalition have sat its term out if it wasn't for Balkenende and Bos?