Most of that 40 billion came from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Akkerman knows. This is partly due to the energy ceiling for households and the allowance for energy-intensive SMEs. “But more than $20 billion was spent without House approval,” Akkerman points out. “Normally, if you need to spend extra money, you can adjust your budget.”
‘You can spend money without the Chamber, but then you violate the right to the budget. And this is only allowed in the event of a crisis’
Such an adjustment is also referred to as an ancillary supplemental budget, which is always followed by a debate, according to Akkerman. “But you can also spend money without a house. Then the budget law of the Chamber is violated, and this is allowed only in the event of a crisis”.
No crisis
And this is precisely the essential element that is missing, according to SP MP Mahir Alkaya. Although he has seen the pandemic as a crisis situation, he believes the cabinet “has been in a permanent crisis since then, in which it has relied too long on leniency”. “And that’s why he thinks money shouldn’t be spent critically,” Akkerman explains.
According to the editor-in-chief Jasper Lukkezen of the economists magazine ESB, it is right that the House expresses its concern about the unauthorized spending of such amounts. “20 billion is simply two to three percent of our GDP, and that’s four to five percent of the national budget,” says Lukkezen. “So I understand the House is concerned about this.”
Principles
He also thinks that it is also a matter of principle for the parliament. Especially since the participation of the House of Representatives is essential for good governance. “The vast majority of those 20 billion are probably expenses that the House would have approved if they had been asked for,” he explains.
And that’s exactly what we’re discussing today, thinks Lukkezen. He points out that there are issues where it is better to spend money now than to wait too long for parliamentary approval. “Now it’s relatively easy for the minister to spend money without consulting parliament,” she explains. ‘A letter has to be sent to the House explaining that there is an urgency, and then it is up to the House to find something about it later. And the parties, including the VVD, are ultimately not very happy about it.’