Maastricht council collapses

Friday 15 October 2010

The Labour party walked out of Maastricht council on Friday, according to press reports, quoting 'insufficient chemistry' with its Christian Democrat coalition partners. It means the coalition in the Limburg city, which also includes the Seniors party and left-wing liberals D66, has now lost its majority.

The decision to leave the council coalition follows a furious row in September about bailing-out Maastricht football club MVV. A row that led Christian Democrat councillor Luc Winants to resign his post.

Labour party leader Nelleke Barning told the Telegraaf the row threw up 'fundamental differences' between her party and the Christian Democrats about the management culture in the city.

Labour councillors have been asked to continue in their jobs until discussions on what to do next have taken place.

In May the council agreed to bail-out MVV, buying the club's stadium for €1.8m and wiping out debts of €1.7m. But in September councillors discovered that officials kept important facts secret and that the club still had other debtors, despite assurances to the contrary.

© DutchNews.nl

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