NOS News•
In the first major election debate in the run-up to the Provincial Council elections, on NPO Radio 1, fifteen national politicians tried to put forward their differences as clearly as possible.
The parties clashed sharply on themes such as nitrogen, purchasing power, climate, housing and migration. Not only left and right and coalition and opposition, but also the coalition parties themselves.
For example, the debate about the wallet resulted in a fierce discussion between opposition parties PVV and GroenLinks on the one hand and the coalition parties VVD and ChristenUnie on the other.
PVV leader Wilders believes that the coalition “should be ashamed” because many people can no longer afford their groceries. GroenLinks leader Klaver wants the VVD to admit that too little has been done for people with a lower income before the war in Ukraine. “Admit you failed.”
VVD party chairman Hermans defended himself by arguing that the cabinet has done as much as possible in 2022 to mitigate the consequences of high energy prices. The VVD has already taken its responsibility for thirteen years, she said.
“In that time there have been an economic, an asylum and a corona crisis and we have rolled up our sleeves again and again.” The new party leader of the ChristenUnie Bikker also says that her party “fights for everyone who needs it most.” “We take responsibility.”
In the debate, there was also a difference of opinion between government parties CDA and D66 about reducing nitrogen emissions. The CDA, which hopes to attract votes in rural areas, does not call halving emissions by 2030 sacred, while the cabinet has agreed to do so.
D66 is annoyed by this and believes that the CDA causes uncertainty for farmers. “Are you good for your signature?”, D66 party chairman Paternotte wondered. BBB does not want to commit to years, the Party for the Animals thinks 2030 is much too late.
No simple solutions
The debate on migration was fiercely conducted by the party chairmen of PVV, CDA, GroenLinks, and Volt. PVV leader Wilders tells the CDA that the party “pushes even more asylum seekers down their throats”. “The Netherlands will become one large asylum seekers center, is that what the CDA wants?”, says Wilders.
CDA party leader Heerma: “Wilders has been saying ‘close borders and own people first’ for years, but it just doesn’t work that way.” Volt leader Dassen says that the PVV pretends there are simple solutions. “It’s not either, or, but one, one.”
In the debate about climate problems, parties such as the SP, JA21 and FvD denounce the high price of solutions such as solar panels and electric cars, which are unaffordable for people with little money.
Watch the debate in some videos here
