Tuesday 07 April 2020

Dutch MPs back minister on coronabonds, but criticise his blunt approach

Dutch MPs back minister on coronabonds, but criticise his blunt approach

A majority of MPs have supported the cabinet’s opposition to issuing coronabonds as a way of paying for the corona crisis during a debate with finance minister Wopke Hoekstra on Tuesday. Some southern countries see the bonds, which would be backed by all members of the eurozone, as a way of spreading the burden more equitably across the EU. But finance minister Wopke Hoekstra infuriated Spain and Italy last week with his blunt rejection of the idea and his suggestion... More >

Ministers meet to discuss corona crisis

Ministers meet to discuss corona crisis

Dutch ministers are meeting again on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis, but insiders do not expect any major new measures. Top of the list of topics is the expansion of the Dutch testing programme and the coming Easter weekend, which is typically one of the busiest in the year in the Netherlands when it comes to tourists. Despite some pressure on ministers to state they will start to wind down the ‘intelligent lockdown’ after... More >

Dutch to phase out coal-fired electricity

Dutch to phase out coal-fired electricity

The cabinet is to press ahead with plans to wind down electricity production at the three remaining Dutch coal-fired power stations in an effort to further cut carbon dioxide emissions, broadcaster NOS said on Thursday. Ministers will now start talks with Riverstone and RWE who own the plants – two on the Maasvlakte near Rotterdam and one in Eemshaven in Groningen, NOS said, without quoting sources. Closure of one power station is also an option, combined with scaling down the... More >

Thierry Baudet loses case against VPRO

Thierry Baudet loses case against VPRO

Dutch public broadcaster VPRO does not have to issue a correction for paraphrasing the words of Forum voor Democratie leader Thierry Baudet, a court in Lelystad ruled on Wednesday. Baudet had taken the broadcaster to court for spreading what he said were ‘scandalous lies’ about statements he made in parliament. The comments were made by television presenter Natalie Righton in Sunday current affairs show Buitenhof in an interview with former FvD stalwart Henk Otten. During the interview, Righton asked Otten... More >

Denk figurehead steps down as leader

Denk figurehead steps down as leader

Tunahan Kuzu stepped down as leader of political party Denk at the weekend, citing personal reasons. Kuzu also said he will not be available as to lead the party into the next elections in an announcement on Facebook. Denk was founded by Kuzu and fellow MP Selçuk Öztürk in 2015, a year after their expulsion from the Labour party for criticising then social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher’s integration policy. Kuzu (38), who will remain as MP until the next general... More >

Rutte gets Martin van Rijn for health job

Rutte gets Martin van Rijn for health job

Martin van Rijn, junior health minister on behalf of the Labour party in the previous Dutch coalition, has been brought back into the cabinet to replace Bruno Bruins, who resigned on Thursday because of exhaustion. Van Rijn is stepping into the role of health minister as an independent, rather than a Labour supporter, and will take on the role for three months, prime minister Mark Rutte said. Rutte said he was happy to have Van Rijn on board because he... More >

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