"Pure discrimination": D66 MP rails against Trump's abrupt entry ban; NL suspends talks with US Border Patrol

By Janene Pieters on February 2, 2017 - 13:05
Donald_Trump_at_Fountain_Park_in_Fountain_Hills,_Arizona_2016.jpeg
Donald Trump speaking in Arizona for 2016 presidential campaign (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons). (Donald Trump speaking in Arizona for 2016 presidential campaign (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons))

According to D66 parliamentarian Kees Verhoeven, Donald Trump's decree to close the American borders to people from seven Muslim countries is "pure discrimination". In a parliamentary debate on the matter on Thursday he that the Dutch government makes a "strong noise against" this decree, a sentiment shared by a number of other parties. The Netherlands decided to suspend talks with American Border Patrol regarding the entry ban for the time being , AD reports.

"Discrimination is simply unacceptable. We stand for an open society", Verhoeven said in a parliamentary debate on the American entry ban on Thursday, according tot he newspaper.  D66 leader Alexander Pechtold expressed similar sentiments at a protest against Trump's decree in The Hague on Wednesday. Verhoeven is supported by the SP.

Christian party SGP says it sees "some discriminatory elements", but also calls it hypocrisy. According to the party, no one is making a fuss about entry bans against people from Israel. On Wednesday the SGP released a manifesto with plans to limit Islam in the Netherlands. 

PVV parliamentarian Raymond de Roon praised Trump's measure, as PVV leader Geert Wilders did shortly after it was announced. De Roon is happy that with Trump as president, the "left wing winter" of Barack Obama is finally over, he said. According to him, Trump's entry ban is a measure to keep "future benefit recipients and terrorists" out the door. He also called the decision to suspend talks with the American Border Patrol "madness".

Thursday's debate was set to be about the upcoming EU summit, but parliamentarians decided to expand it so that Trump's "discriminatory measures" can also be discussed, according to initiator Michiel Servaes (PvdA). Both Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Foreign Affairs Minister Bert Koenders are present.  

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