Frans Weisglas, a leading member of the ruling VVD Liberals, has urged his party not to vote to deport an 18-year-old Angolan youth during Tuesday’s parliamentary debate.

Both the VVD and Christian Democrats should ‘resist the threats’ of the anti-immigration PVV, which props up the minority coalition in return for tougher immigration controls.
In an opinion piece in Trouw, Weisglas says VVD MP Cora van Nieuwenhuizen told him she wanted to follow her heart, but is unable to do so. But that is exactly what MPs can do, Weisglas said in his article.
Parliament
The fate of Mauro Manuel, who has been in the Netherlands since 2003, will be decided later today. He wants to stay in the Netherlands, where he has a new family and goes to vocational college, but by law he should now return to Angola.
Children’s rights charities have spoken out against the impending deportation, saying it would break international law and children’s rights treaties.
According to media reports, MPs are now considering allowing Mauro to stay in the Netherlands while he applies for a student visa. However, his mother has already said this is not a real option, because the youth is not academic.
The CDA could hold the key. At least two of the party’s 21 MPs are known to favour giving the boy a residency permit.