|
| Coalition accord approved by factions |
2/7/2007 |
|
7 February 2007
AMSTERDAM – The coalition agreement from the Christian Democrat CDA, Labour PvdA and ChristenUnie is definitive. On Tuesday evening the three future coalition factions approved the agreement reached by their negotiators.
This means the government plans for the coming four years are set. The main points of that accord have already leaked.
Some 1.3 billion euro will be put towards extra purchasing power, wealthier pensioners will contribute to the general old age pension (AOW) if they retire early, and there will be significant investments in areas including education, the environment, and disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The mortgage interest relief scheme will remain intact.
ChristenUnie-leader André Rouvoet and PvdA-leader Wouter Bos will both serve as deputy prime ministers in the new government.
The opposition parties in parliament are less enthusiastic about the new government plans. Left-wing parties Socialist SP and green-left GroenLinks say the accord does not contain any ambitious plans to really do something about environmental pollution or poverty.
Right-wing parties like the Liberal VVD and Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party are annoyed at the decision to introduce a general amnesty for ‘old’ asylum seekers and the break with the cautious budgetary policy of the last few years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
