Opposition split over cabinet's revised tax bill

The cabinet's revised tax bill has split the opposition. BBB, JA21 and PRO say the offer falls short, but none has said outright that it will vote against.

Other opposition parties are more positive. 50Plus, the ChristenUnie and the Markuszower group are warmer towards the plans. 50Plus's Jan Struijs said he still has "a whole lot of questions", but is positive: "We have gained something in many areas."

On the left, PRO leader Jesse Klaver said: "As it stands, it cannot count on our support." PRO will ask for changes. He said the bill has got worse, mainly because box 3, the tax on savings and investments, changes without higher taxes on the wealthy. He also criticised the cabinet: it is effectively saying it cannot agree internally and leaving parliament to sort it out. "That is not leadership."

On the right, BBB, JA21 and the SGP have jointly set policy demands. They want an end to the asylum dispersal law (asielspreidingswet), a weaker nitrogen approach and a "standstill" on bioethical issues such as abortion and surrogacy.

JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans said his party will "not yet" support the bill. "I do see some movement towards us. But I still have some wishes and questions," he said. He maintains the policy demands, which "need to be discussed".

BBB leader Caroline van der Plas called the offer not good enough. "We will not settle for crumbs," she said. She blamed the cabinet for the chaos and said it was now expecting the opposition to rescue everything at the last moment. She would not say BBB will vote against the bill.