A debate in parliament on controversial plans to flood part of a polder in Zeeland to create ‘new nature’ has been postponed – the first item of government policy to be put on hold following the collapse of the cabinet.

The debate should have taken place on Wednesday evening. MPs are divided on whether all or just part of the Hedwige polder on the Westerschelde estuary should be put under water – in line with a seven-year-old agreement with Belgium.
MPs also on Wednesday forced the postponement of a vote on the cabinet’s plans to overhaul the welfare benefit system, aimed at cutting spending by €1.8bn.
More draft legislation is likely to end up on the scrap heap following the collapse of the coalition government alliance with the anti-Islam PVV at the weekend.

Brussels says ‘yes but’ to polder flood plan