Wide support for new integration policy

Three-quarters of the population supports the government’s new policy on integration, according to a poll on Sunday by Maurice de Hond.


A large majority of voters for the governing parties VVD and Christian Democrats and alliance party PVV is in favour of the change of direction. But two-thirds of Socialist party voters and half of voters for Labour, D66 and GroenLinks also welcome the change.
The poll also shows that 83% of voters are in favour of a ban on the burka.
Home affairs minister Piet Hein Donner on Thursday announced the government would distance itself from the idea of a multicultural society. It is up to immigrants to integrate into Dutch society and general policy on schooling, jobs and housing gives them ample opportunity, he said.
Dutch society and its values must take precedence, he said. There would be a tougher approach to people who ignore Dutch values or disobey the law. He wants to introduce a law making forced marriage illegal and tougher measures on the way immigrants dress, which could include a burka ban.

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