The new cabinet, which is to present its plans for the coming four years in parliament this morning, faces financial shortfalls of around €1 bn reports ANP this morning. Details of the financial situation of the various ministries are expected to emerge later today.

Following the presentation of the government’s proposals, the opposition will get its first chance to debate the issues in parliament in what is expected to be a very lively session. The Christian Democrat (CDA), Labour and ChristenUnie coalition has already come under fire from opposition parties in the media over the past few weeks on a number of controversial subjects.
Mark Rutte, leader of the right-wing Liberal VVD party, has, for example, accused the CDA and Labour of going too far in acquiescing to the traditional religious stance of the orthodox ChristenUnie on moral issues such as gay marriages, abortion and stem cell research.
And the anti-immigration party PVV has said it will submit a motion of no confidence in two Labour junior ministers Ahmed Aboutaleb (social affairs) and Nebahat Albayrat (justice) who have dual nationality at today’s inaugural session of the new parliament.