The debate in the House of Representatives on the so-called nitrogen fund – which involves 24 billion euros – has been going on for more than seven hours, but there is no certainty. The opposition wants to know exactly how all those billions are being spent. They worry that the goals aren’t clear enough so that the money doesn’t go to the right places.
The problems are mainly in the Senate, as political journalist Leendert Beekman knows. He argues that the coalition can push the bill through the House of Representatives, but that support from BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) or the Labor Party/Groenlinks (PvdA/GL) is needed in the Senate. “Minister Christianne van der Wal has to convince them of his plans, because without one of them there isn’t enough support, and it just won’t work.”
“Without the BBB or PvdA/GroenLink there isn’t enough support and it just won’t work”
According to Beekman, the opposition is “particularly critical”. Especially since it is a very high figure and the objectives are not yet clear. “Well, what should be done with it,” he says. “The nitrogen problem must be solved and nature must not deteriorate in any case.”
More goals
The criticisms of PvdA and GroenLinks are mainly due to the unambiguous allocation of the amount. They want the money not only to go to nitrogen, but also to climate and water quality. BBB is afraid that the fund will become a blanket of a thousand things, with so many problems to solve.
However, Van der Wal stressed in his speech that there is still no question of such an interpretation. It would only affect the transition fund for now, Beekman says. “So today it’s about the ‘bank account’ that needs to be opened and into which 24.3 billion needs to be deposited,” he continues. “And then later we’ll talk about how that money is spent. The coalition supports the minister, but support is also needed in the Senate. And we still have to work hard for it.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
