Geert Wilders (PVV) just proposed in the House of Representatives to postpone the votes on all budgets, of all ministries. The governing parties are currently negotiating with four opposition parties about the education budget, so the vote comes too soon.
The government parties want to cut about two billion euros on education and research, but they do not have a majority in the Senate. The budget is still in danger of stranding there.
The left-wing opposition wants to take the entire amount off the table, but a center-right group came up with a different proposal: scrapping 1.3 billion euros in cuts. Among other things, the long-term studying fine would disappear.
Other budgets
If the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science receives extra money, it must be taken from other budgets, such as the budget of the Ministry of Health. That is why those budgets cannot be voted on today either.
Jesse Klaver (GroenLinks-PvdA) was willing to support the postponement, but also asked for a debate about the changes. PVV and BBB do not think the latter is a good idea. Even NSC refuses to discuss such changes in parliament. NSC also did not want to share official documents about the consequences of cutbacks this week.
The latter resulted in unrest. The party was founded more or less because Pieter Omtzigt thought that parliament should have more say and should be able to control the government. This happened in response to the childcare benefits scandal, in which ministers and government parties tolerated little control and provided insufficient information.
Only VVD seemed to keep the possibility of a follow-up debate open. First let's see what is changed, was the position.
Ruin
The left-wing opposition wiped the floor with the course of events. Postpone the votes so shortly in advance? It shouldn't get any crazier, said the SP. It is starting to become a mess, according to GroenLinks-PvdA. The PvdD preferred to show its colours immediately and vote against this cabinet policy.
But the negotiating opposition parties naturally supported the requested postponement. They also didn't mind debating it. But that did not result in a majority. Incidentally, D66 has stepped out of the negotiations because the coalition would not give in enough. Only CDA, ChristenUnie, SGP and JA21 are still at the table.
Klaver will resubmit his request for an extra debate on Tuesday, he announced. He hopes that VVD (and perhaps NSC) will then still let parliament have its say on any changes to the budgets.
