Coalition's future in doubt after VVD loses tax plan vote
Prime Minister Jetten is meeting his two deputy prime ministers on Thursday after the Tweede Kamer passed the tax plan against the VVD's wishes, leaving the coalition's future uncertain.
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Illustrative photo: Fred Romero from Paris, France / CC BY 2.0.jpg){kind=link}
Prime Minister Jetten (D66) is meeting his two deputy prime ministers at the Ministry of General Affairs on Friday in an attempt to keep his cabinet together. The talks were put back by half an hour, to 11:30. He wants to talk to VVD leader Yesilgöz and Asylum Minister Van den Brink of the CDA after the Tweede Kamer passed the tax plan (belastingplan) on Thursday evening by 76 votes to 74.
“We need more investment in our country, not less. Soon entrepreneurs will be the victims of PRO's plans. The baker, installer and shopkeeper could soon be paying hundreds of euros more (in, among others, box 2). The most promising start-ups could soon find fewer investors in the Netherlands. And as a result move abroad. This is bad for entrepreneurs, bad for jobs in the Netherlands, bad for economic growth. The VVD does not support this.”
The vote went against the wishes of coalition partner VVD. Jetten said several times on Thursday that he wants a "a serious fresh start" (serieuze doorstart) of the cabinet.
“The VVD is creating chaos within the chaos. The VVD uses big words about the leftist tax plans but doesn't even dare to state clearly that their own Minister of Finance is going to carry out these leftist plans in this cabinet.”
Jetten wants to discuss what is going wrong between the coalition parties and how to work better with parliament. "That means looking at how we work together in cabinet, how we work together in the coalition, and how a minority coalition can relate to parliament effectively," he said.
“Prime Minister Jetten has been the great absentee since the start of this cabinet term. Also in the emerging cabinet crisis he takes not a single lead. MilanSchenk asks what the prime minister himself did to prevent the coalition parties from coming into conflict over the amendment by PRO and Volt. The prime minister has no answer.”
VVD parliamentary leader Brekelmans called the step by D66 and the CDA "disillusioning" (ontluisterend) after the vote. He did not respond on the substance and said he would consult his party colleagues.
Yesilgöz said on Wednesday evening that a "fundamental reset" (fundamentele reset) is needed in the coalition.
The main question now is whether the VVD accepts Jetten's offer to talk about a restart or leaves the coalition.
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