Through Wopke Hoekstra, the CDA does not want to clarify when it wants to start negotiations. Firstly, the Board wants to clarify the agricultural pact, the provision for the sale of farmers and the formations in the province. Only when there is clarity on this, Hoekstra wants to break the coalition agreement. According to Beekman, the coalition is satisfied with Hoekstra’s reasoning, but the rest of the House doesn’t understand it at all.
“These four people in Vak K hostage to all coalition negotiations in the agriculture agreement”
Independent MP Pieter Omtzigt says the following: ‘These four people in Vak K hostage to all coalition negotiations in the agriculture agreement. That’s what’s happening here.’ Omtzigt indicates buildings that have stopped, farms that cannot invest, infrastructures that are not being worked on. He calls it “totally irresponsible what the government is doing here.”
Damocles
The CDA has made a concession: it wants to start negotiations before the summer. The big problem, however, is that there is simply a nitrogen law that clearly states the year 2030. According to Beekman, that deadline can still become a big deal. All the regulations for farmers, all the policies that the provinces must adhere to are aimed at 2030. “So that law, which has yet to be discussed in the House, hangs like a sword of Damocles over the cabinet.”
Because what if those provinces don’t go out first, while that bill goes to the House of Representatives? Because a law passed to the Council of State returns to the Chamber. If so, a renegotiation is required without that the results of the provinces come back. ‘There are so many ifs and buts to this strange construction that has now been singled out by the CDA and Cabinet and so much ambiguity. Surely this will still cause problems in the near future.’
“The CDA will really have to make a statement on 2030”