D66 and CDA back opposition plan to tax the wealthy more
Two of the three coalition parties backed an opposition amendment to the tax plan, and the Tweede Kamer voted on it on Thursday evening.
The Tweede Kamer passed the 2027 tax plan (Belastingplan) on Thursday 12 November by 76 votes to 74. A Pro and Volt amendment to tax wealth more heavily won a majority first. The Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren) and Denk then also voted for the plan, giving it a narrow majority on the left.
The plan sets out the measures through which the government raises money. It now goes to the Eerste Kamer, which still has to approve it.
Coalition parties D66 and CDA made the wealth-tax deal with Pro and Volt in exchange for support for the plan. The VVD, the third coalition party, was not part of it. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz said she was "ambushed" by the deal, called it bad for the Netherlands and said it went against the coalition agreement.
VVD parliamentary leader Ruben Brekelmans had said during Thursday's debate that his party would vote against the whole plan if the Pro and Volt amendment passed.
Denk leader Stephan van Baarle said his party backed the plan to make life more affordable. Had it been rejected, he said, filling up the car and flying would have become more expensive.
Whether the VVD will stay in Rob Jetten's cabinet is now the central question.
“This can't go on like this. As far as the VVD is concerned, the experiment with this minority cabinet has failed. The VVD joined this cabinet for lower taxes, room for entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, and investment in security. For a strong economy and stable governance. In recent months we have mainly seen a lot of political chaos, precisely in these areas. With an unprecedented escalation last week, in which our two coalition partners, behind our backs, made a deal together with the left. Including PvdD and DENK. A deal that, according to the VVD, is bad for entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses. And that has damaged trust within the coalition. As far as we are concerned, this cannot continue in this way either. That is why the VVD believes two things are needed: 1. Substantive correction. To mitigate and prevent the damage for entrepreneurs. 2. Political correction. The political balance must be restored. Too often now, we look to the left. The VVD has put these points on the table. We will continue talking about this this weekend.”
Source: Tweede Kamer
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