Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende admitted during an election debate between the three Christian parties on Tuesday night that the CDA’s plans will hit spending power, Nos tv reported in its coverage of the debate.

‘Of course some groups will notice the effect of the cuts,’ he said.
Balkenende said in two earlier debates that his party’s plans for the economy would not hurt people’s pockets.
The debate was organised by the Nederlands Dagblad newspaper, which takes a Christian standpoint.
André Rouvoet, leader of the orthodox ChristenUnie and Kees van der Staaij, campaign leader for the fundamentalist SGP also took part.
Education
According to the Volkskrant, Balkenende was also criticised by the two other party leaders for making a commitment to leaving mortgage tax relief unchanged essential for the CDA’s participation in the next coalition.
‘What is more important? Keeping a system in which €5bn benefits the people with the highest incomes or keeping freedom of education?’ said Rouvoet.’
Rouvoet was referring to efforts by some parties to change the law allowing strict Protestant schools to refuse to employ gay teachers.
Abortion
During the debate Van der Staaij accused the ChristenUnie and CDA, both part of the outgoing cabinet, of failing to do enough to reduce abortion and euthanasia.
Rouvoet suggested campaigning for a reduction in the abortion deadline from 24 to 18 weeks but was only supported by the SGP.