Savers' tax plan needs rewrite after opposition says no
Top ministers meet on Saturday after an earlier proposal on taxing savers and large assets got no support from the opposition, with a Tweede Kamer vote on the tax plan (belastingplan) set for 12 November.
Finance minister Eelco Heinen (VVD) and state secretary Eelco Eerenberg (D66) meet prime minister Rob Jetten (D66) and deputy prime ministers Bart van den Brink (CDA) and Dilan Yeşilgöz (VVD) on Saturday to seek support for the tax plan.
An earlier proposal to make small savers and people with large assets pay more tax sooner got no support from the opposition, so Heinen and Eerenberg must come up with a new plan. The Tweede Kamer debates the tax plan all day on Monday and votes on 12 November.
A majority in the Tweede Kamer wants to look at changes to the inheritance and gift tax. Coalition party VVD is against.
PRO will only cooperate if the tax on work falls and people with large assets pay more. Together with Volt, PRO could give the minority cabinet a majority in the Eerste Kamer. PRO leader Jesse Klaver invited Jetten last week to talk about the plan during the recess.
Right-wing parties also set conditions. JA21 wants stricter agreements on asylum and the SGP wants attention for medical-ethical issues. BBB demands that the nitrogen plan be scrapped, which the cabinet does not want.
Guide: Dutch income tax brackets and rates 2026
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Tweede Kamer
The House of Representatives, the lower and more powerful house of the Dutch parliament. Its 150 members are elected directly; it can amend bills and holds the cabinet to account.
Eerste Kamer
The Senate, the upper house of the Dutch parliament. It cannot amend bills but can approve or reject them after the Tweede Kamer has passed them. Its 75 members are elected by the members of the provincial councils.
PRO
PRO is a Dutch political party with seats in both the Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives) and the Eerste Kamer (Senate). In this context it matters because its senators can help a minority cabinet reach a majority in the Eerste Kamer, which must approve legislation.