Prime Minister Mark Rutte first wants to read the report on the earthquakes in Groningen together with the cabinet. A substantive answer will follow later, though it’s unclear when. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to go into this now.” It is even questionable whether Rutte will respond before the March 15 provincial elections.
The committee judges the prime minister harshly: he has not done enough for the people of Groningen and has not ‘made a difference’ for them. Most of the research focuses on the period after 2012, after Rutte took office as prime minister.
rushed
Rutte thinks it is “disrespectful” to Groningen residents to respond now. It’s about 2000 pages. I don’t think it’s fair to answer this haphazardly.’ The prime minister acknowledges that his explanation will sound “empty” to the people of Groningen. “They won’t approve it, but I still ask for your understanding.”
“I don’t think it’s fair to answer that in a moment.”
According to the committee, Rutte “has long underestimated the seriousness and urgency of the problem in Groningen”. Only in 2018 did the Prime Minister realize how “bizarre” it was that in 2013, exactly one year after a major earthquake in Huizinge, gas extraction had reached a record high. But he did not do what should have been expected of him at the time, according to the committee.
‘Shame’
The responsible state secretary Hans Vijlbrief briefly responded to the presentation of the investigation report. He spoke of “shame”. The commission’s findings have also “received hard” at Rutte, says the prime minister.
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
