Rutte IV can get to work. After two days of debate in the House of Representatives, there are sufficient parties who have confidence in the elaboration of the plans from the coalition agreement.
How this will be done exactly remains to be seen in the near future: many of the plans have been written down in outline – in accordance with the wishes of the House of Representatives – and are still being worked out. There were no major problems for the cabinet in the past two days.
However, a number of changes have been made and commitments made that the House wanted in advance. In the coming months, for example, the government must come up with proposals to improve the purchasing power of the elderly in particular. It appears that those numbers are disappointing.
Several motions were passed on this subject, from both coalition parties and the opposition. Prime Minister Rutte has promised to look at the purchasing power of various groups of citizens. “But I can’t give any guarantees. We’re going to look at that very closely.”
A little less strict
The plans to solve climate and nitrogen issues for 60 billion euros have received little criticism. Some of the opposition parties are happy that the cabinet is allocating so much money. As GroenLinks leader Klaver said: “Such amounts and ambitions. Who can object to that?”
Although there are also parties that are afraid that the national debt will rise too much. In any case, the House has expressed in motions that it wishes to be closely involved by the cabinet in spending these billions of budgets.
Rutte is not afraid of that. He does acknowledge that the cabinet is slightly less strict with government finances. But according to him, there is also room in the coming years to absorb a blow à la corona.
‘I will stay here’
The real debates about the plans are yet to come. However they run, Rutte did want to say one thing: he intends to finish this term as prime minister.
“I have no ambitions to do anything in Brussels or in Washington or anywhere else. I think it’s too beautiful here, I have energy and plans. I hear some people sigh: when will he end… But no, I will stay here.”
Political reporter Arjan Noorlander from Nieuwsuur also followed the debate today, with special attention to the often promised ‘new administrative culture’:
Report by NOS
