Opposition MPs try to boost Sunday shopping with own law

The success of efforts by opposition MPs to leave Sunday trading regulation up to local councils will depend on Geert Wilders’ PVV, website nu.nl reports on Thursday.


Liberal party D66 and the left-wing greens GroenLinks have drawn up their own draft legislation which would take responsibility for Sunday trading decisions away from national government.
Instead, it would be up to councils themselves whether or not to allow shops to open more often.
Labour and the pro-animal party have already agreed to support it, and the backing of the anti-Islam party would give the measure a majority of one in the lower house.
Tourism
At the moment, towns and cities have to prove they enjoy ‘substantial’ tourism to allow shops to open for more than 12 Sundays a year.
Supporters of the new plan argue it will allow Bible belt towns which oppose Sunday trading on principle to keep shops shut.
The biggest party in the new government, the right-wing Liberal VVD, had wanted to expand Sunday shopping but later agreed not to change the rules because of opposition from the fundamentalist Christian party SGP.
The SGP’s support could be crucial to the government because it has a majority of just one in parliament and is heading for a minority position in the senate.
Earlier stories
Small shopkeepers happy with the Sunday shopping status quo
Town told to close shops on Sunday because it is not touristy
Christians, Socialists vote to tighten Sunday shopping rules

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