“Work. Big mess.” This is how Frans Timmermans describes the course of events surrounding the coalition agreement. “Wilders is unable to create a prime minister with his one-man party,” says Timmermans, leader of the largest opposition party. D66 leader Rob Gittin believes Wilders should quickly come up with a prime minister.
Harsh criticism
Undoubtedly, this criticism will also be heard today from opposition parties. From 10.15 a.m., the House of Representatives will discuss the “Hope, Courage and Pride” agreement concluded by PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB last Wednesday. The 25-page article announces strict measures, for example when it comes to asylum.
But major cuts are also being promised to all types of funds (such as the nitrogen fund), education, culture, and the civil service. This will also lead to severe criticism. And ask questions like: How feasible is all of this?
Who will be prime minister?
In addition to the negotiating agreement, today there will also be talk about this other topic: the candidate for prime minister. Or rather: the lack of a filter. It is still unknown who Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders is referring to, as it turned out yesterday:
The intended prime minister, Ronald Plasterk, withdrew from his candidacy for the position of prime minister last weekend. He said in a statement that the reports circulating about him in recent days are “incorrect,” but they stand in the way of his appointment as prime minister.
Plasterk has been under fire over a patent case. The cancer treatment he developed in collaboration with researchers from UMC Amsterdam was in his name only and he made millions from it. UMC Amsterdam is now investigating the case.
Who then?
Wilders does not yet want to say whether he is already thinking about someone else. He first wants to discuss this matter with the coordinator and other parties in the ministerial formation.
In today's debate, former whistleblower Richard van Zoll is expected to be formally appointed as moderator. It is up to him to the complex task of forming a new team of ministers and a suitable candidate for prime minister in the near future.
