Conservative leader likens asylum seekers to top Dutch crime boss

VVD leader Halbe Zijlstra compared failed asylum seekers to organized crime boss Willem Holleeder after the crisis meeting on what to do about failed asylum seekers at the Ministry of Social Affairs on Monday, NU reports. "We are talking about a very important point for the VVD, namely a strict asylum policy for people who refuse to return and refuse to execute judgements by Dutch judges. We as VVD will not change that policy." Zijlstra said after the meeting. "If Willem Holleeder listened to the judge as well as these people, he would not have spent one day in jail." The rest of the cabinet seemed positive that a solution to the impasse that has developed between the VVD and PvdA on the issue may be in sight. "It is going in the right direction", PvdA leader Diederik Samsom said. "We are making progress step by step", Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed. The latest meeting in the almost week long crisis talks started at 10:30 a.m. In addition to Samsom, Rutte and Zijlstra, the meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher (PvdA) and the responsible state secretary Klaas Dijkhoff of Security and Justice. The VVD and PvdA have completely opposite viewpoints when it comes to what to do about failed asylum seekers. The VVD believes that the failed asylum seekers have no right to shelter as it would take away the incentive to leave. They also believe that it would have a magnetic effect on the influx of asylum seekers. The PvdA has a more humane view, stating that it would be humane to offer them basic care in the form of bed, bath and bread. Reportedly many solutions have been put on the table as an option, but a solution that is acceptable to both parties has not been found yet.