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More confusion over talks with Morocco about failed asylum seekers

The Moroccan embassy has cancelled a meeting with junior justice minister Ankie Broekers-Knol after what some have described as the minister’s clumsy approach to the talks. Broekers-Knol had arranged the meeting with the Moroccan ambassador to discuss the return of Moroccan nationals who have tried to claim asylum in the Netherlands, but the meeting was cancelled at the last minute. Sources told broadcaster NOS that Morocco wanted to expand the agenda to other issues, such as jobs and a trade... More >

Minister survives tax office fraud debate

A no-confidence motion against tax minister Menno Snel for his handing of the child benefit tax office scandal failed to generate enough support during a long and stormy debate in parliament on Thursday. Both GroenLinks and the fundamentalist Protestant party gave their backing to Snel, who is accused of withholding information and failing to deal with the scandal as it unfolded in the media over several months. Many of the victims of the tax office actions were in the public... More >

Third term for Rotterdam mayor Aboutaleb?

Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb has ended mounting speculation and gone public with his wish to have a third term in office in the port city. Aboutaleb, a Labour party member, was the first Muslim mayor to be appointed in a big city in Western Europe when he took up his appointment in 2008. His second term in office expires next year but Aboutaleb has told city officials he would like to remain in the job in order to play a... More >

Klaas Dijkhoff to stop claiming extra pay

Klaas Dijkhoff, the VVD’s party leader and Mark Rutte’s heir apparent, has decided he will stop claiming the special benefit for politicians who were earning more as ministers before taking seats in parliament. Last month, the Volkskrant reported how Dijkhoff is claiming €37,000 a year in wachtgeld on top of his MP’s salary and party leader supplements, because he still earns less than he did as a minister in the previous government. At the time Dijkhoff said he was sticking... More >

MPs back supervisory board female quotas

MPs on Tuesday voted to bring in a compulsory quota requiring the supervisory boards of listed companies to ensure at least 30% of their members are women. The proposal was opposed by the VVD and ChristenUnie coalition parties as well as the anti-immigration PVV and nationalist FvD. The vote should have been taken last week but was delayed by the Socialist Party, who said the measure did not go far enough. In September, the government’s SER advisory body called for... More >

Riot police arrest 13 as bonfire row rages

Thirteen people have been arrested after riot police tackled a second night of unrest in The Hague’s coastal suburb of Duindorp. Some of those arrested on Sunday were children, including a nine-year-old boy who was caught with a Molotov cocktail, the city’s acting mayor Johan Remkes said. Remkes urged police and other emergency services to work ‘closely together’ ‘to face down lawlessness in The Hague’. NOS said police believed a group of around 50 people, many of them teenagers, were... More >

No cover up over Iraq casualties: PM

Prime minister Mark Rutte has denied that there was any attempt to cover up civilian casualties in the wake of the Dutch raid on an IS bomb factory in Iraq in 2015. Rutte has been dogged by the issue since Dutch media reported last month that a Dutch fighter jet dropped the bomb on the factory in the town of Hawija, which led to some 70 civilians being killed. During a stormy debate on Wednesday night, Rutte was asked repeatedly... More >

Support drops for the VVD in latest poll

Support for the right-wing Liberal party VVD has taken a knock in the latest poll of polls, which gives the party of prime minister Mark Rutte 17.3% to 20% of the vote if there were a general election tomorrow. Despite the recent drop – equivalent to up to four seats in the 150 seat parliament – the VVD remains well clear of the anti-immigration party PVV and the left-wing green party GroenLinks, both of which have 10% to 12.7% support... More >

Top-up benefits for ministers turned MPs

Several MPs are still claiming the special benefit for politicians who lose their job because they were earning more as aldermen or ministers before taking seats in parliament, the Volkskrant said on Tuesday. MPs earn a basic €115,000 a year, plus allowances, but if they were previously a minister or alderman, they are entitled to benefits to bring their salary up to their old earnings for at least two years. VVD parliamentary party leader Klaas Dijkhoff, for example, is claiming... More >

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More confusion over talks with Morocco about failed asylum seekers
Not standing up for female rights is 'wilful neglect', says Prince Constantijn
Minister survives tax office fraud scandal debate, pledges speedy compensation
Rotterdam mayor Aboutaleb says he would like a third term
Klaas Dijkhoff will stop his top up €37,000 but won't pay it back
MPs back female quotas for supervisory boards, VVD votes against
Second night of unrest after New Year beach bonfires abandoned
There was no cover up over Iraq casualties, prime minister tells MPs
Support drops for the VVD in latest poll of polls, GroenLinks and PVV rise
Former ministers and aldermen who become MPs claim top-up benefits
Defence minister 'probably' told Mark Rutte about Iraq bombing casualities
Farmers stage new motorway protest ahead of talks with Schouten
Dutch don't have to bring back IS children from Syrian camps: appeal court
Ministers unveil plans for €2bn spend on road and rail improvements
Moroccan government 'won't talk' about failed asylum seekers
Local councils must get welfare claimants to do something, minister says
Man jailed for 10 years for plotting 'terrorist attack' on Geert Wilders
Nitrogen pollution plan may not work or hold up in law, experts say
GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver is sole Dutchman on Time Next talent list
Second generation immigrants must choose nationality: ChristenUnie

More confusion over talks with Morocco about failed asylum seekers

More confusion over talks with Morocco about failed asylum seekers

Support drops for the VVD in latest poll

Support drops for the VVD in latest poll

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