Chaotic budget debate reveals deep differences of opinion in the cabinet

The second day of debate on the government’s plans for the coming year broke out in chaos on Thursday evening after documents showed that officials from several ministries had warned against declaring an “asylum crisis” for legal reasons.

In the early afternoon, Schoof had agreed to hand over evidence of the plan, much of which had been redacted, to the anger of opposition MPs.

A new batch of documents (without the redacted pages) details that officials believe the declaration of a state of emergency would not be upheld in court because there are no special circumstances that would justify it.

Nevertheless, the cabinet, dominated by the far-right PVV, is determined to go through with its plan. Declaring a state of emergency would allow the cabinet to bypass both houses of parliament. However, it does not have a majority in the Senate.

Insiders say the chaos shows the deep divides and lack of trust between the four parties that the new coalition. In particular the PVV, the VVD And BBB is angry that the NSC, the fourth coalition party, has sided with the opposition and demanded the publication of the documents.

VVD boss Dilan Yesilgöz later also criticized Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber on social media.

“We have agreed to reduce the number of refugees,” she said. “Emergency laws or fast-track procedures: Both could have been minister Faber. Do both as soon as possible … and make sure that it is solid legislation that Strictly speaking work.”

“The differences of opinion within this cabinet, And especially between PVV and NSC, are enormous,” said NOS correspondent Xander van der Wulp. “The is a question that may jeopardize the continued existence of this young cabinet for some time, as relations extremely bad.”

“The right-wing coalition and the right-wing cabinet are dragging their feet, surrounded by political uncertainty,” said RTL commentator Fons Lambie.

Opposition MPs drafted a motion calling on the government to introduce new asylum control measures quickly, rather than declaring a state of emergency and bypassing parliament. But the motion did not receive enough votes.

Other aspects of the government’s spending plans for 2025 were also discussed and the Cabinet agreed to revisit the decision to increase VAT on sport.