Prime minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday dismissed opposition claims that his new government is not reform-orientated and ruled out any changes to jobless benefits and redundancy law.

During the first day of debate on the new government’s plans on Tuesday, opposition MPs criticised Rutte’s failure to carry out much needed reforms, in line with the VVD election promises.
Cuts in jobless benefit and redundancy law reforms are out of the question because of the agreement made between the minority cabinet and anti-Islam PVV, Rutte said.
Deals
But there is plenty of room to make deals with opposition parties in other policy areas, Rutte said.
The VVD and Christian Democrats have formed a minority government which has guaranteed support from Wilders in certain areas. In return concessions have been made to the PVV.
Answering criticism that Wilders is too powerful in the current set up, Rutte told MPs he will hold a weekly meeting with the PVV leader to discuss policy but that he will not be copied in on government minutes.
Reforms
Rutte said the new government is committed to a number of reforms, including an increase in the state pension age from 65 to 66, the abolition of student grants for master’s degrees and a drastic reduction in the size of the civil service.
For more on the debate:
He’s not in government, but Wilders dominates first debate
New prime minister looks for broad support, appeals to opposition