Faber backtracks: Now "100% supports" Royal distinctions for asylum volunteers

Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber “100% supports” the decision of Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Minister Judith Uitermark (Home Affairs, NSC) to sign the nomination for medals for volunteers in the asylum sector after she had refused to do so. The PVV Minister wrote this in a letter to parliament after a day of disagreement about her debate performance on the matter.

Faber acknowledged that, during the debate, she “too often” pointed out that she did not want to sign off on the medal nominations. “And I regret that,” she said. The PVV Minister refused to sign off on volunteers for the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) because she did not think it was in line with the strict asylum policy she wants to implement.

“As a Minister, I am not a rubber stamp machine. If I do not want to sign it, I will not sign it,” Faber said when the subject was discussed during question time on Tuesday. Opposition parties found her attitude stubborn and were annoyed that she refused to answer questions.

On Wednesday morning, parliament will call the Minister to account for the course of events. Opposition parties believe that the Cabinet lacks unity. In The Hague, this is considered a political mortal sin. Prime Minsiter Schoof initially planned to skip a meeting with Belgium to attend the debate, but decided to leave the debate to Faber after her letter, a spokesperson for the Prime Minster confirmed.

Faber said that it “apparently did not get across sufficiently” that she fully endorsed that Uitermark and Schoof signed the nominations. According to her, there is “complete unity of Cabinet policy.” Faber said that her letter was also drawn up on behalf of Schoof.

On Tuesday evening, the coalition parties and the no-party Prime Minister Schoof met about the commotion and the upcoming debate.

Several opposition parties, including the CDA and ChristenUnie, have threatened a motion of no confidence against Faber. The Asylum Minister counts on the support of the Christian parties to get her strict asylum laws through the Senate.

She also faced criticism from the coalition. For example, NSC MP Nicolien van Vroonhoven said she was “not yet completely convinced” that the Cabinet was speaking with one voice on this issue. That needs to become clear during the debate on Wednesday, the MP said. She did not answer the question of whether the NSC still supported Faber. “It is not that we do not support her.”

Even State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie (Justice and Security) - also in the Cabinet on behalf of the PVV - told the press that she thought Faber did not radiate unity of cabinet policy.