Yesilgoz put forward the proposal during the discussion of the November 22 election results. The proposal was also signed by Geert Wilders (PVV), Peter Omtzigt (NSC) and Caroline van der Plas (BBB). Both parties declare that they place “reducing (migration) flows at the top of the agenda.”
The House of Representatives passed the Dispersal Law at the beginning of October and aims to better distribute the reception of refugees throughout the Netherlands. Many municipalities are not currently contributing. Outgoing Minister of State Eric van der Burgh (Asylum) believes that the law is the solution to the shortage of shelter places.
The bill is now before the Senate. Treatment is scheduled for January. With her proposal, Yesilgoz wants to ensure that this is postponed. But the Senate is interested in its own agenda and “the government supports the bill,” Rutte stressed in a letter.
There was a lot of criticism of Yeselgoz’s move on Wednesday. Rob Gittin (D66), who is part of the government, like the leader of the VVD, spoke of “constitutional subversion.” He pointed out that the VVD’s proposal could lead to the division of the government. CDA leader Henry Pontenbal also warned about this.
The law of distribution is Van der Burgh’s idea. Just like Yeselgöz, he wears a double hat: part of the outgoing government and a member of the VVD. He, of all people, should defend the bill, which the previous Chamber of Deputies adopted despite the opposition of the VVD, in the Senate.
