The stakes are high for all parties in the parliamentary debate that began this afternoon over the government’s complex nitrogen deal. The cabinet must persuade the House of Representatives to abide by the provincial election results where the BBB has made big gains.
On the other hand, the factions of the ruling parties have to defend reconciliation against the heavy criticism of the opposition. And then that criticism comes from different directions: both from parties that want to slow nitrogen measures and from groups that want to speed it up.
GL boss Klaver and BBB boss Van der Plas question the CDA’s desire to break the coalition deal within a few months. They believe that the cabinet should “manage rather than coerce”.
The compromise reached Friday by Prime Minister Rutte (VVD) and Deputy Prime Ministers Kaag (D66), Hoekstra (CDA) and Schouten (ChristenUnie) means the cabinet is suspending nitrogen policy until it becomes clear which agreements are in place. Coalitions pending in the provinces. The winner of the election will take the BBB leadership. There is a risk of failure.
Prime Minister Rutte didn’t want to talk about a break on Friday, but instead talked about an acceleration to the surprise of many. This will be discussed in this afternoon’s discussion, and there are other highlights as well. Can the cabinet buy the best trucks faster and the forced purchase is over? Is 2030, which should have cut emissions in half, off the table? Is there still a cabinet that handles important files together?
The ruling parties seem to answer or explain these questions differently. There are also big differences when it comes to housing and asylum.
Officially, landslides are on the agenda in the state elections on March 15, but in practice it will mainly be related to the vague message from the cabinet last Friday.
PVV is expected to issue a no-confidence motion, which insiders say will certainly get the support of JA21. In any case, Van der Plas (BBB) is calling for a new emergency law to get the nitrogen law off the table.
The discussion is scheduled to begin at 16:30. First, the entire opposition, then the coalition parties in the evening. Only then does it come to the cabinet, where at least Rutte is the first speaker.
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
