Box 3 debate with finance minister cancelled after VVD move

VVD MP Wendy van Eijk asked on Tuesday morning to drop the special debate on box 3 from the agenda. The coalition parties VVD, D66 and CDA backed the request, as did opposition parties Ja21 and SGP. Together they had a majority, and the debate was cancelled.

The request came through a written procedure, a way for MPs to settle agenda matters on paper. There, each party's seats count, not individual MPs. In the committee vote on Monday evening each MP present had one vote, and most voted to summon Heinen to answer questions. He was due to report on Wednesday morning.

Box 3 taxes returns on savings and investments. At Monday's committee debate in the Tweede Kamer, only state secretary Eelco Eerenberg (D66) spoke for the Ministry of Finance. Heinen (VVD) was in Brussels for talks with European counterparts.

Heinen can still be questioned on taxing assets. A major debate on the tax plan (belastingplan) is scheduled, and MPs will put questions on box 3 to him there.

MPs, including from parties that work closely with the cabinet, criticised the move. Pro MP Luc Stultiens called it "unprecedented and extremely uncollegial". Dogukan Ergin (Denk) said such procedural games are "completely unacceptable". Henk Vermeer (BBB) said: "It's not sporting."