The right -wing government of the Netherlands, a coalition of four parties headed by the extreme right, has avoided this Friday a crisis derived from the rejection of the majority of the congress to support European defense plans. Three of the formations in power have joined the refusal to finance a rearmament that requires, in part, the assumption of joint debts by the EU member states, and the flexibility of budgetary standards. In a convulsive atmosphere, with meetings until late at dawn, the surprise has emerged: Dick Schoof, the prime minister, said on Friday that he was not willing to “with his hands tied” to Brussels. I did not plan to fulfill the intention of the lower house and vote against the defense plans in the EU.
No one was waiting for the president’s reaction, a former senior official without a party card – he had returned the social democrat before being appointed – who acts as an arbitrator in the Executive. The commitment that has saved the coalition has been to agree that more than 150,000 million euros can be requested. That money, in addition, must be used for defense and budget norms may not exceed. The fear of the Dutch Congress is that all European countries, including weaker economies, also borrow money jointly. That can increase interest rates and deputies believe it will be harmful to the Netherlands.
The groups of the ruling coalition that have seconded the refusal of the Congress are the Party for Freedom (PVV), of the ultra leader, Geert Wilders; the peasant-citizen movement (BBB), which represents the agricultural sector; and new social contract (NSC), founded by former Democristian Pieter Outzigt. The fourth group, the Popular Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), abstained because it considers that the rearme plan is not ready. However, it is contrary to any type of Eurobon that implies loans together with countries in southern Europe considered financially less solid.
Once the crisis is saved, Caspar Velskamp, Foreign Minister, of the NSC, has described as “excellent” the position of Prime Minister Schoof. In turn, Ruben Brekelmans, head of Defense, member of the VVD, has said that “nobody” in Brussels and NATO has doubts about Netherlands with respect to Europe’s rearmament and support for Ukraine. For next Tuesday a parliamentary debate on this matter is planned.
For Prime Minister Schof, the position of Congress was a personal setback as well as politician, because he had already voted in Brussels the outline of the European plan. And the EU is in a hurry, since the support of the United States is less and less clear through NATO. His image and value of his position, in addition, could be compromised among his European counterparts. Hence, in the end it has been agreed to avoid a complete rejection of the plan. And it is not contemplated backing into this situation.
This Friday, during the press conference after the Council of Ministers, Schoof has said that it is important to “continue treating the United States as a serious partner.” “Disregarding Trump doesn’t work,” he said. At the same time, he has appreciated that the meeting with Mark Rutte, general secretary of NATO and former Dutch prime minister, has gone well.
