Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm (VVD) has discovered a €1.7 bn tax windfall. ‘According to the autumn statement which I have just completed, things are going better than expected,’ Zalm told the Telegraaf.

The windfall brings the budget surplus to 0.4% this year. In the budget figures, it was 0.1%. ‘It looks really positive for the future,’ Zalm said. ‘November and December are not included in the current figures so it could move up nearer to 1%.’ The VVD is currently trailing in the opinion polls.