It is not clear where the parliamentary debate now underway will go, but it is clear that the opposition is united to send Rutte IV home. So says political journalist Sophie van Leeuwen. Crucially, the Cabinet must clarify whether the 2030 nitrogen deadline will be removed from the coalition deal.
Although BBB leader Van der Plas points out that the debate is not just about nitrogen, but “much more”, according to Van Leeuwen “this debate is mostly about nitrogen”. Because the nitrogen dossier, or rather the 2030 deadline, seems to be the crowbar with which to break the coalition agreement. Never mind that, according to Van Leeuwen, the coalition is determined to save the marriage for now. “But it’s not going very well.”
Taking a decision
The key question then is whether that coalition agreement will be breached, despite the fact that coalition partner CDA wants to get rid of that deadline. Speaking through Sophie Hermans, the VVD says it wants to maintain the coalition agreement, ‘but will put the solution to that knot in the coalition with the province’. That’s where the knot has to be tied and that’s where “accelerated a lot of money” has to go, according to the VVD. Millions have already been promised, but GroenLinks is not satisfied: he asks if the nitrogen law will be withdrawn. “My specific question is: What should provinces consider?” says GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver.
‘It’s just not going well’
Delay
According to Van Leeuwen, a cabinet crisis appears to have been postponed, “so we don’t see a shrinking cabinet today.” “The province has to understand this and they continue to get by.” Meanwhile, D66 says he wants to talk to the CDA, but keeps asking how nature’s goals should be achieved.
“I think those talks will still take place,” says Van Leeuwen. “But how they come out is a mystery and in addition the D66 in the province – which is up to the move – is even offside”. Because there the CDA will work together with the BBB and here and there with the VVD. In The Hague today they still haven’t found a solution at all, concludes Van Leeuwen.
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.
