Inexperienced, not artificial and genuinely struggling with a difficult Chamber. That is how the non-partisan Prime Minister Dick Schoof made his debut on the second day of the General Political Considerations, writes Carla Joosten.
He cannot help but be compared to his predecessor who was Prime Minister for fourteen years. Mark Rutte (VVD) also started off faltering, but developed into an actor who skillfully parried the attacks from the House.
The fact that the government wants to regulate the Asylum Crisis Act outside of parliament caused the Lower House to bristle. The opposition kept insisting on handing over all official advice on bypassing the House when implementing the emergency law, which the cabinet plans to do to make the strictest asylum policy ever possible. There was so much banter that former top official Schoof let himself go for a moment: ‘My, my, my, this is truly unbelievable.’
The spirit of the absent NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt haunted the Chamber. He was the one who previously ensured that parliament not only received more cabinet decisions, but also all associated official documents. This now had to happen with the plans for emergency law. Among others, CDA leader Henri Bontenbal called on NSC vice-party leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven on Wednesday 18 September, on the first day of the General Political Considerations, to speak out in favour of publication. After all, her party holds good governance and the rule of law in high regard. SP leader Jimmy Dijk invited Van Vroonhoven to the microphone the next day. ‘I think you can say something too.’ Whereupon Van Vroonhoven supported the opposition’s demand to publish the official advice.
Package of mostly black painted papers
Prime Minister Schoof emphasized that the cabinet had not yet decided on an emergency law. According to him, only when that has happened should those recommendations be sent to the House of Representatives. But the House persisted. In the afternoon, a package of papers followed with large pieces blacked out – texts that, according to Schoof, were about other subjects.
The visible pieces of text do contain news: the officials advised the cabinet against introducing emergency law.
Opposition demands Schoof’s image of humanity
Already at the beginning of this APB day, Schoof had to defend himself against an opposition that kept insisting on a ‘human image’ to be outlined by Schoof. Rutte was accused of having no vision. Schoof no human image, while – here he is again – Omtzigt had already asked for that in July.
SP MP Jimmy Dijk started with it this time, and criticized the ‘enthusiastic pragmatism’ of Schoof’s cabinet. ‘I would very much like a somewhat deeper analysis from this prime minister than “enthusiastic pragmatism”. What is your view of humanity? What are your values? What are you going to work on with this country in the coming years?’
GroenLinks-PvdA leader Frans Timmermans disagreed with Schoof’s defense that he is only the first among equals in the cabinet. According to Timmermans, ARP member Barend Biesheuvel (1971-1973) was the last to be seen that way. Prime ministers have since acquired an increasingly important role, especially through their actions in the European Union and the media.
Wilders as leader of the country
Timmermans warned that if Schoof does not show more of himself and especially his view of humanity, PVV leader Geert Wilders will be seen as shadow prime minister and real leader of the country. Schoof said he hears something different in society.
‘People don’t ask me so much about my view of humanity, but about solving problems and achieving results. They don’t ask me what my vision of life is. What they do ask me is: do something. Fix some of those problems. Make sure there is housing. Make sure this country remains liveable. Make sure this country remains safe. Make sure this country remains free. And make sure that people in this country can have confidence, can take responsibility and can still be who they want to be.’
DENK faction leader Stephan van Baarle went the furthest in challenging Schoof. He wants Schoof to call Wilders to account, because he allegedly dismisses a million Dutch Muslims. But Schoof refused to review members of parliament – including Wilders.
He also parried harsh criticism from Jimmy Dijk (SP), who held Schoof responsible for not completely eliminating child poverty in the Netherlands. ‘I will not let myself be persuaded that I do not care about poverty.’
Schoof was not intimidated by the fierceness with which
Dijk and Van Baarle addressed him. He remained calm in his answers.
Dispute over official advice
The debate remained stuck for a long time in the fuss about the official advice on emergency law. JA21 MP Joost Eerdmans thought it was exaggerated that his colleagues made it a main point. Schoof emphasized once again that the cabinet had not yet decided on the use of emergency law, so that according to the rules no official advice has to be made public.
At the end of the afternoon, Schoof bowed after all, and said he would also reveal the unvarnished parts of the documents – 69 pages. He did so with great reluctance. A chaotic debate followed for hours, with much bickering about the cursed Asylum Crisis Act. Why not take asylum measures via emergency legislation without passing the House? Even VVD faction leader Dilan Yeşilgöz suggested it as a possibility. The debate seemed to be getting exciting for a while, but ultimately fizzled out.
To the accusation of D66 leader Rob Jetten that Schoof was the mouthpiece of the coalition, the prime minister reacted emotionally that he works day and night to get things done. Whereupon the entire cabinet drummed for a long time. Rarely seen in parliament.
