VVD and CDA senators criticise ‘populist’ coalition agreement

Senators from the two governing parties – VVD and CDA – have been highly critical of the coalition agreement, saying it is ‘populist’, Elsevier magazine reports on Tuesday.

And according to a poll for tv current affairs programme Nieuwsuur, at least half the CDA and VVD senators will vote in line with their own views rather than the government’s.
During a debate on Tuesday, the CDA’s leader in the senate Jos Werner, described the agreement as ‘sometimes too simplistic and populist’. The choice of words is often ‘cold, populist and focuses on individual interests’ Elsevier quoted Werner as saying.
Civilisation
He also condemned the ‘denigrating choice of words’ used to outline cuts in spending on the arts and culture. These words show little respect for the ‘great importance of art for our civilisation,’.
VVD senators were also critical of the cuts in spending on the arts and culture, Elsevier said.
Nevertheless they do not plan to ask the government to scrap plans to increase value added tax on theatre tickets.
In total, the government is cutting spending on the arts and culture by €200m and hopes to raise an extra €90m with the tax increase.