Minister claims asylum “emergency” evidence is ready, then says it isn’t moments after

The evidence to justify a declaration of a state of emergency around the asylum situation is “not completely finished” after all, Minister of Asylum Marjolein Faber said Tuesday afternoon. About an hour earlier, the PVV politician told parliamentarians that the Cabinet's argument was actually completed, with the claim almost immediately refuted by the four coalition parties, including her own. Faber had said this "supporting evidence" for using state emergency measures to subvert parliament was submitted for review to the coalition parties, which they subsequently denied.

Faber claimed negotiations on the legal justification were ongoing. “I have seen nothing,” said VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius. “No, it would be nice to be honest after two months of waiting for proper legislation,” Yeşilgöz lashed out at the PVV minister. “I don’t know what it’s about.” The VVD leader said it is “important that it comes quickly.” Incidentally, Yeşilgöz said she did not expect the coalition parties to negotiate anyway. “Negotiations? I just assume there are legislations which can pass through parliament, and we can ensure that we get a grip on this.”

BBB leader Caroline van der Plas said via WhatsApp that she is waiting to see what will happen. “It is possible that it gets to us today, but I have seen nothing yet.” The fourth coalition party, NSC, also said it has not seen supporting evidence and does not know about any ongoing negotiations.

“We have already come very far. I am having some affairs checked and then checked again,” Faber explained later. She could not say when the important substantiation for the emergency asylum declaration would come. “As quickly as possible,” the minister said. She still maintains that there are “negotiations between the party leaders and the prime minister.”

The use of emergency powers to suspend current laws regarding asylum and immigration, and thus introduce stricter measures without approval from Parliament, has caused a major rift within the coalition. The PVV are strong supporters of an emergency declaration to ensure a stricter asylum policy is implemented quickly. But this requires some form of supporting evidence and a legal basis, constitutional law scholars argued.

The “supporting evidence” is seen as a sore point because it was previously made clear that civil servants also consider it impossible, and an inaccurate reflection of the current situation. For the coalition party NSC, such a justification is required, while the PVV wants this emergency declaration made at all costs.

Geert Wilders, the leader of Faber’s party, the PVV, said in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, that the minister must have “misspoke” by saying that the supporting evidence was finished. He and the other party leaders have not seen the documents yet, he confirmed. “So we cannot talk about it.” The politician also claimed that the parties are negotiating “in a good atmosphere” about the emergency asylum law.

NSC, which campaigned on good governance, believes there is no justification for such a far-reaching step. The parties are diametrically opposed on the matter, and it is questionable whether the governing coalition will reach an agreement. The emergency law must be discussed in the Council of Ministers meeting next week.