Night of Schmelzer
During the debate's conclusion, Norbert Schmelzer, parliamentary group leader of the Catholic People's Party (KVP), introduced a motion opposing the Cals cabinet.
Within the Labour Party, distrust of the KVP deepened, spurring a polarisation strategy and the rise of the New Left faction.
Conversely, the Night propelled the KVP, CHU, and ARP toward unification as the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).
After the 1963 general election, the Marijnen cabinet, comprising the KVP, VVD, CHU, and ARP, took office.
KVP faction leader and informateur Norbert Schmelzer's attempts to resolve the issues during the formation that year were unsuccessful.
The ARP also faced internal division between traditionalists and radical evangelicals, marked by rivalry between party leader Bauke Roolvink and Deputy Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel.
PvdA supporters were skeptical of the 1965 partner swap, fearing the KVP aimed to resolve the broadcasting issue before resuming a coalition with the VVD.
[1] The cabinet took office during an unfavorable economic period marked by a wage-price spiral and government overspending since 1964.
During the formation, the PvdA insisted on deviating from the Romme norm, which restricted government expenditure growth to the rate of national income, much to the dismay of right-wing KVP members.
Despite this, the three parties remained committed to participating in the government but adopted a more critical stance in anticipation of the February 1967 general election.
During deliberations, Finance Minister Vondeling claimed that after implementing all measures, the budget deficit was only 26 million guilders, within the margin of error, so further action was unnecessary.
Schmelzer emphasized that the cabinet needed to regain trust by providing "clear and convincing answers to our pressing questions.
Toxopeus, Witteveen and three fellow parliamentary group members submitted a motion stating that "the expenditure and tax policy must be revised in such a way that these objections are removed".
These were "the correctness of the proposed level of expenditure", "that heavy new burdens are not unavoidable with great probability for 1968" and concrete measures that contributed to responsible wage development.
Nederhorst asked the KVP and ARP to make their coalition preference clear before the elections, something that neither party responded to.
[9] The House, Having heard the General Political and Financial Debate on the 1967 National Budget of the opinion that the proposed financial and economic policy should provide more guarantees for balanced growth and against further currency devaluation and unemployment, expresses its conviction that, also in view of the possibilities for 1968, in addition to an improvement in the 1967 coverage, measures to prevent additional increases in expenditure are necessary, invites the Government to submit proposals to this end, And proceeds to the order of the day.
The meeting was suspended for an hour at around a quarter past two at night at Schmelzer's request for consultation within the parliamentary groups.
ARP parliamentary group leader Roolvink had wanted to support the motion, but under pressure from MP Jaap Boersma, chairman Wiert Berghuis [nl] and Deputy Prime Minister Biesheuvel, he decided to close ranks and vote against the motion.
The Night of Schmelzer had a catalytic effect on the long-standing growing distrust between the PvdA and the religious parties, in particular the KVP.
[17] On the other hand, the Night contributed to the founding of the Group of Eighteen, with representatives from the KVP, ARP and CHU, which eventually led to the merger of the parties into the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) in 1980.
