Right-wing populist Geert Wilders has announced the “strictest asylum policy ever” for his country. The coalition plans to limit asylum status, limit family reunification and cut social benefits.
Even labor migration and the admission of foreign students should be restricted. “The Netherlands must structurally belong to the category of member states with the strictest admission rules in Europe,” the coalition newspaper said. “People in Africa and the Middle East will wonder whether they might be better off elsewhere,” Wilders said.
Dispute with the European Commission?
Current EU asylum rules must be circumvented and an exit clause must be submitted to the European Commission. They responded immediately and announced that they would do their part to ensure the legislation was implemented.
Other plans of the new government in the Netherlands include relaxing environmental regulations for farmers, cutting back on official positions and financing public broadcasting. In addition, subsidies for sustainable energy and development aid must be reduced, while natural gas production is expanded. War-torn Ukraine should continue to receive defense funding.
Four weeks until he takes office
It will probably take another four weeks before the new government takes office. First the House of Representatives debates the plans, then the cabinet must be formed. The new coalition consists of the Freedom Party (PVV) under Wilders, the right-liberal VDD under previous Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the new right-conservative NSC and the right-wing populist farmers’ party BBB (see video above). They have 88 of the 150 seats. It is still unclear who should become the head of government.
Source: Krone
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