The aim of this project is to develop an integrated ethical framework for the assessment of the moral quality of political compromises. Such a framework is needed, because in times of polarization and populism, political compromises are particularly vital, but also increasingly unpopular and difficult to achieve. While academic ethicists have often abstract debates about the nature and impact of (hypothetical) compromises, media and citizens criticize the very game of striking political compromises, making politicians even more are embarrassed to admit them. Thus, we seem to have difficulties understanding what achieving a good compromise could be like. The framework to be developed is intended as a conceptual instrument to improve on this. It will pay attention not only to the moral principles a compromise does or does not violate (deontology) or to the practical results it yields (consequentialism), but also to the role of moral character in the process of striking the compromise itself (virtue ethics). This is a frequently neglected element that should, however, be central to our assessments. To develop the framework, philosophical conceptualization and normative analysis will be combined with interactive empirical research on three concrete cases from Dutch national politics in the tumultuous period 2002-2012 (two in which stable compromises were reached – the directly elector mayor in 2005 and pensions in 2011 – and one in which that did not happen, resulting in a political crisis – the Afghanistan mission in 2010). Using interactive consultations, in-depth interviews with key players and other experts, and document study, the ethical framework will be iteratively constructed, validated, and further refined. Ultimately, the project has the goal to assist both academics and practitioners in seeing better how politics as ‘the art of compromising’ can be conducted with virtue and how this art could be further improved in present-day circumstances.