Opposition calls against VAT increase on books and wants Cabinet to tackle child poverty

The majority of the opposition, both on the left and the right, is calling on the Cabinet to refrain from increasing VAT on books, newspapers, and magazines. They say the measure contradicts the new coalition government's efforts to improve young people's reading skills.

The coalition parties PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB want to impose a high VAT rate of 21 percent on books, newspapers, and magazines instead of the low rate of 9 percent. This is intended to generate additional funds that can be used to relieve the burden on employees, the wealthy, and companies.

D66, GroenLinks-PvdA, CDA, PvdD, Volt, SGP, JA21, ChristenUnie, SP, and DENK are jointly calling for these political wishes to be fulfilled in ways other than the denounced VAT increase. "In short, almost the entire opposition," emphasized petitioner Rob Jetten (D66). They also pointed to the importance of the press for a well-functioning democratic constitutional state. They fear that a price increase could cost the heads of regional titles in particular.

However, the chances of the call finding a majority are slim. Over the past two days, the four coalition parties have not for a moment given the impression in the debate on the government declaration that they are prepared to abandon agreements from their framework agreement. VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz admitted that he was not a fan of the VAT measure but said that sometimes painful decisions were necessary.

In addition to the call not to increase VAT on books and print media, the opposition also demands that the new cabinet actively tackle child poverty in the Netherlands.

Almost the entire opposition is backing a motion by SP leader Jimmy Dijk to the Cabinet to ensure that child poverty does not increase but decreases. According to SP, GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, CDA, SGP, ChristenUnie, DENK, Partij voor de Dieren, Volt, and JA21, the Cabinet must include this plan in next year's budget.

The parties call it "unacceptable that the number of children growing up in poverty is increasing." The motion submitted in the debate on the government statement is unlikely to receive support from any of the four coalition parties. However, with the motion, the opposition parties send an important signal about their priorities. After all, the Cabinet is short of seats in the Senate for a majority.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof called the motion "sympathetic" but advised the Kamer against approving it. He pointed out that there is no proposal on financing the plan.

Not only do the opposition parties want to take action against the VAT increase, but many organizations from the media, culture, book catering, and events industry openly spoke out against the new Cabinet's plans to increase VAT in the media and culture sector.

"No higher VAT, you burden the entire Netherlands with it," said the organizations, including the KNVB, Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, the Nederlandse Vereniging van Journalisten, and the Vereniging van Evenementenmakers. According to them, the VAT increase would have major consequences: the book market would suffer huge losses, and there would be more than a million fewer festival visitors in the Netherlands, Het Parool wrote.