Parliament orders new gov't to rework plans to increase state pension age, fight poverty
After two days of debate, a majority in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, has ordered the new minority government to rework its plans for increasing the state pension age (AOW) and combating poverty. Whether this will lead to major changes is still unclear. The new government made no concrete commitments, NOS reports.
The Cabinet’s plans to increase the state pension age faster dominated a significant portion of the debate. A motion by the SGP and Groep Makruszower to “soften” the blow received a majority, with the support of the coalition parties and JA21 - the minority Cabinet’s first “deal” with the opposition.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten promised to “pause for thought” and explore mitigating measures for the AOW. And with that, a softer increase in the state pension age now has majority support in the Tweede Kamer, and the Cabinet can proceed with its AOW plans.
GroenLinks-PvdA, PVV, ChristenUnie, 50Plus, DENK, SP, and Volt considered Jetten’s promise to explore mitigating measures for the AOW to be too weak. They want the plan completely scrapped. As do the trade unions FNV, CNV, and VCP, who said they are “furious” and will not talk with the Cabinet until that happens.
The AOW plans also don’t have a majority in the Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate, yet. GroenLinks-PvdA leader Jesse Klaver warned Jetten against working too much with “coalitions of convenience” as this could jeopardize the overall plans and budgets.
The Tweede Kamer presented proposals to adjust various plans. A parliamentary majority told the Cabinet to change its plans so that poverty is reduced, instead of increased. Parliament also wants the Cabinet to first assess the consequences for vulnerable groups before implementing its social security cuts.
As is almost tradition, PVV leader Geert Wilders also filed a motion of no confidence against the new Cabinet. It failed, only getting support from SP and FvD.
Jetten responded calmly to almost everything, including Wilders’ attacks and motion of no confidence. Jetten jokingly said he would frame the motion, “because it’s the first.”
After the two-day-long debate, Jetten was positive about how it went. He spoke of a “calm” and “substantive” debate, saying he “enjoyed” the substantive contributions despite the “sometimes understandable” criticism.
