ANPKaag announced the agreement tonight
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 23:22
The outgoing cabinet has reached agreement on next year’s budget. Minister Kaag (Finance) calls it a “balanced package”, but says that the details will be announced on Prinsjesdag. She does say that the budget is balanced and has been established in “a good atmosphere”. Contrary to previous consultations, it was not night work.
Kaag cannot say whether people with a smaller purse can now breathe a sigh of relief. “I can’t look into everyone’s wallet.” She does say that the agreement was concluded “with an eye for the people who are struggling”.
Earlier this month, the Central Planning Bureau calculated that the number of Dutch people in poverty threatens to rise towards one million if no new policy is introduced. Asked whether the cabinet has taken this into account, Kaag says: “That was a theory that assumed that we do nothing, but we do do something.”
2 billion euros
It has already leaked that the government plans to allocate 2 billion euros to improve the purchasing power of people with a low or middle income. This is mainly done by increasing the rent and care allowance and the child-related budget for them. People are also less likely to be cut on social assistance benefits.
According to sources, there was still a gap of 300 million in the budget. It is not clear whether that will be closed with taxes or spending cuts.
The budget still needs to be formally approved by the Council of Ministers. The Council of State will then pass judgment on it and the budget will be calculated. The House of Representatives may then adjust the budget.
2023-08-30 21:22:29
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