The government is not doing enough to make sure the Netherlands can compete against developing economies such as China, former prime minister Wim Kok says in an interview with the Financieele Dagblad.

The cabinet should be spending more on improving education and innovation, the former Labour party leader said.
‘It is notable that a government which claims to be a reforming government is not doing anything to the housing and labour markets,’ Kok said. ‘That, in addition to the lack of priority for education, is this cabinet´s weak point.’
Kok said the deal between the minority government and the anti-Islam PVV is the reason for the lack of progress. “This would appear to be the price of an alliance with the PVV,’ he said.
The PVV opposes redundancy law reform and increasing the state pension age.