And the head of the country's most powerful business alliance glowingly announced that the Netherlands' famous model of business-labour compromise had been restored: "The polder model is back".Whether everyone will welcome its return is another question.
Asked when Labour ministers' compromises turn them into Tories, the old man replies: "When they no longer see them as compromises - when they believe Tory policies are better".
1997-2001: New Labour's compromise New Labour had made electoral capital out of the Tories' unpopularity over privatisation, but only pledged to stop the sell-off of air traffic control.
Speaking in Lincoln, he said he would never let the SNP force Labour to compromise on national security, fiscal responsibility or the future of the United Kingdom.
But the wider picture is that, for Labour, every compromise is seen as simply letting one of these young upstart parties nip closer at their heels.
"The wider picture is that, for Labour, every compromise is seen as simply letting one of these young upstart parties nip closer at their heels".
I do this so the essence of the work, its point or focus, floats clearly on the surface without appearing laboured or compromised.
Left-wing voters have been angered by the budget-cutting compromises Labour has struck with the Liberals, while many Liberal voters dumped their party over tax hikes.The most historic shift took place in Amsterdam, where Labour, which has run the city since 1946, lost to the liberal democrats of D66, the big winner of the day, whose leader Alexander Pechtold is Mr Wilders' fiercest opponent.
For now, Malhotra is the likable face of the uneasy compromise Labour's political centrists have struck with their firebrand leader.
What's also worrying is that if elected Labour ministers were compromised on all this – I don't assume they were, but answers are needed – then chances are that the elected coalition may be too.
