"Fundamental change of course" needed before GL-PvdA will support Cabinet's welfare cuts

GroenLinks-PvdA will only support the upcoming Cabinet’s plans for healthcare and social security if the D66, VVD, and CDA make “a drastic change of course,” leader Jesse Klaver said at a GL-PvdA members meeting. He thereby signalled the start of negotiations with the incoming minority Cabinet, NOS reports.

Klaver called the new coalition’s intentions for a higher healthcare deductible, shorter unemployment benefit period, and increase in the state pension age “plans that will hit people very hard.” He finds them “irresponsible.”

Klaver is also critical because the coalition plans undermine other agreements, such as the pension agreement. “It also says something about the way they intend to collaborate, and we’re concerned about that.”

And GroenLinks-PvdA wants to see “more ambition” when it comes to fighting climate change, protecting nature, reducing nitrogen, and taxing higher incomes.

“We want to take responsibility to help the country move forward, but not to help the Cabinet move forward. A fundamental change of course is needed,” Klaver told the GroenLinks-PvdA members at the gathering in Utrecht. They met his statement with loud applause.

GroenLinks-PvdA’s position is important for the upcoming Cabinet. Without the left-wing party, the minority Cabinet will be very dependent on the BBB for a majority in the Senate. That party’s support is also far from certain. Among other things, the BBB supports halving the healthcare deductible and is against anything affecting farmers in the nitrogen policy.