Restrict the queen to ceremonial duties only, says a majority of MPs

A majority of MPs wants the queen to be restricted to ceremonial duties only, it emerged during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday afternoon.


Only the ruling VVD and CDA and two minor Christian parties want the queen to continue in her present role as formal head of the government and retain her membership of important advisory committees.
Labour, the biggest opposition party, called for the introduction of a ‘modern monarchy’. ‘We want a monarchy without the appearance of political influence,’ said MP Pierre Heijnen.
Opposition
The other opposition parties and government supporter PVV called for the queen to be removed from her formal position as head of the government altogether.
Prime minister Mark Rutte said later he did not want any changes in the queen’s role. The queen does not have any political power and every monarch is free to do the job as he or she thinks fit, Rutte said.
The debate is set to continue into Wednesday evening.
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