The fate of 18-year-old Mauro Manuel from Angola is likely to be decided at this weekend’s CDA conference after dissident MPs refused to back the party line in Thursday night’s debate.

The marathon sitting lasted into the early hours of Friday morning but there was no vote on motions to allow the youth to stay after it emerged the CDA is divided.
Immigration minister Gerd Leers said earlier this week that Mauro, who came to the Netherlands alone as a 10-year-old, should be sent back because his personal circumstances were not urgent enough to make an exception.

Stand
On Saturday, CDA members will be able to say whether or not they support the stand taken by Kathleen Ferrier and Ad Koppejan – both strong opponents of the party’s alliance with the anti-Islam PVV.
According to an opinon poll by Maurice de Hond, a majority of CDA members think the youth, who lives with a foster family in Limburg, should be given a residency permit.
Mauro was in parliament to listen to the debate. Afterwards he told reporters he was glad to know how much support he had.