CDA wants reforms as well as cuts

The Christian Democrats will not agree to more cuts in government spending without reforms to healthcare, the housing market and employment legislation, deputy prime minister Maxime Verhagen says in an interview with the Telegraaf, due to be published on Saturday.


It is not only important to get government spending in order, but to take steps to stimulate the economy, Verhagen is quoted as saying.
‘It is better to pay off your mortgage than pay interest to the bank. It is better to make sure people can find a new job than make it hard to sack them. It is better to make sure healthcare is offered to those who really need it than keep on spending more on less,’ Verhagen said.
New cuts
Reforming the current mortgage tax relief system, and changes to the redundancy laws are likely to be central to a new round of talks between the minority cabinet and anti-Islam PVV in a couple of months time.
Prime minister Mark Rutte declined to comment on Verhagen’s statement, saying he will wait until the next macro-economic forecasts are published in March before assessing what needs to be done.
Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV, used the microblogging service Twitter to urge the CDA to ‘pipe down’. ‘Without the PVV, no cabinet,’ Wilders said, referring to his party’s position as alliance partner. Wilders opposes changes to mortgage law and unemployment benefit reforms.

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