The House of Representatives is critical of the policy document. This would be “messy and opaque,” says political journalist Leendert Beekman. “There are cuts, but through the cheese slicer method.” That means there won’t be big cuts, but raise some money everywhere.’ For example, the STAP budget will be abolished and free childcare will be deferred. The few windfall gains come from underspending, money left over because the plans that were made weren’t implemented.
‘Make people happy’
According to Beekman, the House’s call for action shows a “classic contrast between left and right.” For example, VVD deputy Eelco Heinen is in favor of substantial cuts. While our national debt is still relatively low, our budget deficit is too large. The government spends too much money and therefore we have to spend less elsewhere. Not because it makes accountants happy, but because it ultimately makes people happy.”
According to Heinen, between ten and twenty billion euros must be cut. The Member of Parliament leaves the origin of that money open. “This depends on the cabinet, but this will be looked into over the next few years.”
However, PvdA and GroenLinks prefer to see the money raised on the revenue side. ‘A decent income for all should be the most important task for this House and this Cabinet. Financial headwinds force us and politicians to make sharp choices, and we believe that these choices must be social,’ says Attje Kuiken, leader of the PvdA party.
The party proposes to limit excessive profits through additional tax rates. That money must be used for a social package aimed at purchasing power. D66 also sees something in this, but thinks spring is too early to make decisions about it now. This should be done before the Prinsjesdag.
Grab inflation
GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver wants “parliament to draw a line and enforce a more social course”, otherwise, according to him, the livelihoods of many Dutch people will be in jeopardy. Attje Kuiken (PvdA) believes the cabinet is doing too little against high prices, while companies are making high profits. ‘Grab inflation really needs to be addressed now.’
An important point, according to the left-wing tandem, is that families who send children to kindergarten are compensated for the postponed “almost free childcare.” A tax credit for young parents will still be out of the question as of 2025, although the new childcare system won’t be operational before 2027.
BBB
The BoerBurgerBeweging joins PvdA and GroenLinks’ call for the cabinet to take steps as early as the spring memorandum to permanently improve the purchasing power of vulnerable households.
Now that the BBB is also backing the Left Bloc’s call, enough Senate support for this major budget adjustment seems a long way off. Without these parties, a majority in the Senate is not possible.