Leftist opposition withdraws confidence in Faber amid asylum policy controversy

Left-leaning opposition parties in the Netherlands have officially withdrawn their confidence in Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber. A motion of no confidence was introduced by the Socialist Party (SP) and supported by GroenLinks-PvdA, the Party for the Animals, DENK, and Volt. The immediate trigger for the motion was the unrest surrounding Faber’s management of asylum policies, particularly those affecting mentally ill asylum seekers.

In September, it was announced that the Veldzicht forensic psychiatric clinic in Balkbrug would eventually close its doors to asylum seekers to prioritize Dutch patients requiring mandatory psychiatric care. The decision sparked alarm among municipalities and healthcare providers, who warned that asylum seekers with severe mental health issues could end up on the streets, posing risks to themselves and others.

In late November, Faber partially reversed her decision, allowing only the most severe cases to continue receiving treatment at Veldzicht. From January 1, other patients will need to be placed in regular care facilities. SP MP Michiel van Nispen criticized the revised plan, stating, “This minister, under pressure from Geert Wilders and for sheer optics, is putting sick individuals on the streets. This is reckless and dangerous. When you deliberately endanger society, you fail at your job and are unfit to be a minister.”

The Cabinet is scheduled to review Faber’s controversial asylum measures during its final meeting of the year on Friday. The measures, aimed at reforming asylum laws, include significant restrictions and have divided both the coalition and opposition. Sources confirmed that the proposed policies have been finalized and will address key issues such as the asylum application process, residency permits, and family reunification.

Key measures include shortening the validity of fixed-term residency permits from five years to three and abolishing indefinite residency for asylum seekers. Faber also plans to limit family reunification rights, barring adult children and unmarried partners from joining asylum-seeking family members in the Netherlands. Additionally, a new two-tier asylum system is being proposed, distinguishing between individuals fleeing persecution based on political views, religion, or sexual orientation—who would receive stronger protections—and those escaping war, who would only be granted temporary accommodation.

The Council of State has raised significant concerns about Faber’s legislative proposals, arguing that they will increase workloads and costs for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) and the judiciary. In its formal advice, the Council warned that the measures could lead to longer asylum procedures and an overloaded legal system. It also noted that the rush to implement these laws could undermine their effectiveness and conflict with the European Migration Pact, which must be incorporated into Dutch legislation by 2026.

Criticism has also come from the Council of the Judiciary and the Dutch Bar Association (NOvA). Sanne van Oers, chair of NOvA, accused the government of sidelining key stakeholders through a hasty legislative process. “We fear this rushed approach could have significant consequences for our democratic rule of law,” she said.

Within the coalition, tensions over asylum policies remain high. The far-right PVV, led by Geert Wilders, has strongly supported Faber’s proposals but has faced pushback from other coalition partners, including the NSC. Wilders recently stated that his party has made numerous concessions on issues such as taxation and emergency asylum laws. He warned against further compromises, threatening to withdraw from the coalition if any additional changes to the asylum plans are made.

“The PVV has already made too many concessions. I will not accept any more,” Wilders told journalists this week. The PVV’s stance has also strained relations with opposition parties. The coalition’s other partners, the VVD, BBB, and NSC, have struggled to maintain unity on the divisive issue.

The Cabinet has also proposed other policies, such as designating certain regions in Syria as “safe” to justify the return of asylum seekers to those areas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing an updated report on the situation in Syria, which will serve as the basis for these decisions. The report is expected by the end of the year.

Additionally, the government plans to reduce its commitment to the United Nations refugee resettlement program, admitting only 200 refugees instead of the previously agreed 500. Internal border controls may also be reinstated under Article 25 of the Schengen Agreement, limiting movement within the EU.