Dutch divided on pension age increase

Monday 07 September 2009

Some 50% of the population support government plans to increase the state pension age from 65 to 67, the same percentage who are opposed, according to a new Maurice de Hond opinion poll.

People aged 30 to 55 and those on low incomes are more likely to oppose the increase. The over-55s will be unaffected by the planned changes.

Some two-thirds of Christian Democrat, ChristenUnie, left-wing green (Groenlinks) and Liberal democrat (D66) supporters back the increase. A slight majority of Liberal (VVD) and Labour (PvdA) voters also support the plan.

PVV opposed

But people planning to vote for the Socialist party and anti-immigration PVV are firmly against, the opinion poll showed.

On Sunday, PVV leader Geert Wilders told the Telegraaf his party would oppose moves to raise the pension age. It would be a deciding factor if his party was involved in forming the next government, Wilders said.

The PVV has nine seats in the 150-seat parliament but is riding high in the opinion polls with between 24 and 30.

© DutchNews.nl

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