VVD, D66, CDA and ChristenUnie will continue speaking today after the weekly Ministerial Council. Then the knot must be tied, at least that’s what Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s VVD wants. During an earlier consultation on Wednesday evening, Rutte sharpened the negotiations by demanding that there be a quota on the number of family members who can bring war refugees to the Netherlands. The Christian Union in particular disagrees. According to Beekman, it is stuck around the family reunification of asylum seekers from war zones. “ChristenUnie is very clear on this and it is difficult to reach a compromise.”
Progress has been made, says Beekman. “Especially since they’re talking to each other again. Rutte would also have apologized for the tone and the way in which he had spoken ».
Football terms
Rutte did not want to delve into the cabinet meeting or discuss possible steps taken Thursday night. “We’re in a process where we’re trying to reach agreements and that’s by definition a step,” she said later. When asked if he is optimistic, he replied ‘never say anything about how I feel because then you end up in those football terms’. D66 leader Sigrid Kaag spoke after “good talks”, which have yet to lead to a breakthrough. Deputy Prime Minister Carola Schouten of ChristenUnie also spoke of substantive discussions, but she declined to say whether she was any more positive than on Wednesday evening. “We’re still talking, but I can’t say it’s easy.”
CDA leader Wopke Hoekstra also declined to say much about the subsequent conversation. According to him, it is not wise to ‘always give the provisional score’. He hinted, however, that some progress has been made. “Let’s see reason to resume the conversation tomorrow.”
CDA housing minister Hugo de Jonge is more confident after the night consultation than before. “I think we’ve taken action.” In his own words, then, he “really has a feeling that it should be possible to get out.” But for this we still need to do the necessary work on Friday after the Council of Ministers. “We certainly aren’t done yet.”
“I feel we have taken action”
State Secretary Eric van der Burg (Asylum) said he would “now put something on paper”. According to him, the fact that the talks are still ongoing means “that we will not stop now,” the VVD minister said after more than five hours of consultations.
After the Council of Ministers
Today, a few hours before the Council of Ministers, an important part of the cabinet will continue to discuss a package of measures. ‘The subject will not be discussed at the Cabinet meeting,’ says Beekman. “And during the prime minister’s usual press conference, journalists are not allowed to talk about it. After that, the ministers will talk some more and we will hear more. They’ll have to make a decision today.”
“Today they will have to make a decision”