Protecting democracy takes centre stage in king’s speech

Democracy was the central theme of king Willem-Alexander’s speech to both houses of parliament on Tuesday afternoon, an event in which the monarch traditionally outlines the main themes of government policy for the coming year.

“Democracy requires constant protection and maintenance,” the king said.

“Everyone who does something for another person – as a volunteer, an unpaid carer or in some other capacity – serves the public interest and makes the Netherlands stronger. Fortunately, this Dutch tradition of community spirit endures, as an antidote to polarisation.”

“That is why it’s so important that we don’t reduce the concept of democracy to the will of half the people plus one. Democracy should unite people, not play them off against each other.

An important element in this, the king said, is ensuring the public have confidence that government will solve their problems. “It is a joint contract with parliament and the government to make sure that their questions can more often be answered by ‘yes’.”

“Parliamentary democracy belongs to everyone, is for everyone and should serve everyone.”

Read the official translation of the speech

The king went on to outline various policy initiatives drawn up by the minority government for the coming years. Some problems, such as the housing shortage, nitrogen-based pollution, public safety and climate change have, he said, been “asking for solutions for far too long.”

The king said the cabinet will continue to listen to the concerns of farmers who are worried about their livelihoods, particularly those working close to areas where nature is under threat. But it would be “irresponsible” to delay measures to reduce nitrogen pollution, he said.

He called for a pragmatic approach to solving the housing crisis, including more reliance on prefabricated buildings. Reducing refugee numbers will take time and he described the wave of protests about the location of refugee centres as “worrying”.

“It must be clear that threats and violence are unacceptable,” he said.

Railway sabotage

The king’s speech took place as the police and railway officials sought to end at least 30 acts of sabotage on the railways, plus numerous hay bale fires close to motorways, thought to have been carried out by militant farmers.

He did not refer to the trouble expressly, but he closed his speech by saying that one definition of democracy includes the need to give way occasionally to the meaning of others.

“The spirit of reasonableness and compromise implied in that remark will solve more problems for people than the constant controversies that sometimes seem to be gaining the upper hand,” he said.