‘Coalition agreement will answer our problems’

The coalition agreement agreed between the right-wing VVD, Christian Democrats and anti-Islam PVV provides answers to the Netherlands’ problems, VVD leader Mark Rutte is quoted as saying in Wednesday’s Telegraaf. ‘

The plans, which still have to be approved by party MPs and a CDA congress, are an ‘answer to the financial and economic problems in the Netherlands. In addition, we can count on broad support in society and that will bring cohesion,’ Rutte said.
Several weeks ago, Rutte was criticised for saying the agreement would make ‘right-wing Netherlands lick its lips’. That statement prompted CDA leader Maxime Verhagen to retort that the coalition would not be right wing because the CDA is not a right-wing party.
Integration
Farid Azarkan, chairman of the Dutch Moroccan alliance told the Telegraaf: ‘I think it is dreadful that decent parties like the CDA and VVD have joined up with the PVV.’
The tie-up means that the PVV’s standpoints (including a ban on the Koran and tax on Muslim headscarves) will no longer be seen as quite so insane, Azarkan said.
‘The divisions between Muslims and non-Muslims will be strengthened,’ he warned. ‘And that will not help the integration process, which is not really going badly at all.’
Foreign press
Meanwhile, the inclusion of the anti-Islam PVV – which will act as a silent partner in parliament but will not formally be part of the government – is the main angle in coverage of the deal in the foreign press.
‘Dutch far-right party set to be part of a minority government,’ writes German world service Deutsche Welle.
‘Dutch to Complete Talks on Cabinet Backed by Anti-Islamist Freedom Party,’is the headline on the report by news agency Bloomberg while Reuters states ‘Dutch agree coalition with anti-Islam party support’.