The European Tribune is a forum for thoughtful dialogue of European and international issues. You are invited to post comments and your own articles.
Please REGISTER to post.
The last obstacle to a rightwing coalition is removed as Christian Democrat dissidents back down, Geert Wilders' trial goes ahead despite "unfortunate" remarks by the judge, and the Netherlands braces for a frog invasion. No more talking - it's testosterone time "The time for talking is over, the time for action has arrived," populist De Telegraaf announces dramatically. All the papers lead with the news that the two Christian Democrat "dissidents" Ad Koppejan and Kathleen Ferrier have finally agreed to toe the party line, removing the final obstacle to a VVD-CDA coalition resting on the parliamentary support of Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party. "It is my conviction that we will be giving up a core value of our party if we agree to this government construction." That was what Kathleen Ferrier said at the CDA conference on Saturday - and just to rub it in, nrc.next blows up this quote to fill its entire front page. Three days later the Christian Democrat MP, daughter of the first president of Suriname after the former Dutch colony became independent, has agreed to "not to block the formation" of the cabinet. Nrc.next also gleefully reminds us of fellow dissident Ad Koppejan's Saturday speech: "In a divided country, we mustn't give Wilders a platform with this construction to preach his message of hatred against Islam." He now explains that "our objections stand", AD reports, and the two dissidents will "judge it on its actions". They say they'll be keeping a critical eye on the government's every move, particularly when it comes to immigration and integration policy. "So they should," comments Geert Wilders, "they're paid to do that." The upshot is that the opposition is "increasingly cynical about the cabinet's stability," says Trouw. The coalition will already have to look elsewhere for support on policies that aren't to Mr Wilders' taste - anything to do with the European Union for example. But now, with its flimsy one-seat majority, it will have to turn to the right-wing orthodox protestant SGP for support when it comes to Mr Wilders' beloved tough measures on immigration. Despite all the controversy, the papers are unanimous. By the middle of next week, the Netherlands will have Mark Rutte as its new prime minister, at the head of what Trouw describes a "rightwing, testosterone cabinet".
The last obstacle to a rightwing coalition is removed as Christian Democrat dissidents back down, Geert Wilders' trial goes ahead despite "unfortunate" remarks by the judge, and the Netherlands braces for a frog invasion.
No more talking - it's testosterone time "The time for talking is over, the time for action has arrived," populist De Telegraaf announces dramatically. All the papers lead with the news that the two Christian Democrat "dissidents" Ad Koppejan and Kathleen Ferrier have finally agreed to toe the party line, removing the final obstacle to a VVD-CDA coalition resting on the parliamentary support of Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party.
"It is my conviction that we will be giving up a core value of our party if we agree to this government construction." That was what Kathleen Ferrier said at the CDA conference on Saturday - and just to rub it in, nrc.next blows up this quote to fill its entire front page. Three days later the Christian Democrat MP, daughter of the first president of Suriname after the former Dutch colony became independent, has agreed to "not to block the formation" of the cabinet.
Nrc.next also gleefully reminds us of fellow dissident Ad Koppejan's Saturday speech: "In a divided country, we mustn't give Wilders a platform with this construction to preach his message of hatred against Islam." He now explains that "our objections stand", AD reports, and the two dissidents will "judge it on its actions". They say they'll be keeping a critical eye on the government's every move, particularly when it comes to immigration and integration policy. "So they should," comments Geert Wilders, "they're paid to do that."
The upshot is that the opposition is "increasingly cynical about the cabinet's stability," says Trouw. The coalition will already have to look elsewhere for support on policies that aren't to Mr Wilders' taste - anything to do with the European Union for example. But now, with its flimsy one-seat majority, it will have to turn to the right-wing orthodox protestant SGP for support when it comes to Mr Wilders' beloved tough measures on immigration.
Despite all the controversy, the papers are unanimous. By the middle of next week, the Netherlands will have Mark Rutte as its new prime minister, at the head of what Trouw describes a "rightwing, testosterone cabinet".
by DoDo - May 20 10 comments
by Nomad - May 10 14 comments
by JakeS - May 15 7 comments
by Metatone - May 14 85 comments
by ARGeezer - May 16 13 comments
by gmoke - May 17 2 comments
by DoDo - May 12 11 comments
by Migeru - May 6 100 comments
by DoDo - May 2010 comments
by gmoke - May 172 comments
by ARGeezer - May 1613 comments
by JakeS - May 157 comments
by Metatone - May 1485 comments
by DoDo - May 1211 comments
by Nomad - May 1014 comments
by Migeru - May 78 comments
by marco - May 782 comments
by Migeru - May 6100 comments
by Ted Welch - May 35 comments
by afew - May 340 comments
by ceebs - May 26 comments
by gmoke - Apr 301 comment
by Frank Schnittger - Apr 3067 comments
by joelado - Apr 2954 comments
by Metatone - Apr 2854 comments
by ATinNM - Apr 275 comments
by ceebs - Apr 265 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Apr 2686 comments