ANP extension
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
Migration is expected to be discussed in the coalition, but ChristenUnie will not negotiate “bullying measures for refugees”. Party leader Gert-Jan Segers said this in his speech at the Christian Union congress.
He repeated his statements from a one-room interview in Amersfoort with other party members Since yesterday on the migration debate. “But if that conversation in the coalition escalates into negotiations on measures that make procedures as difficult as possible, then it will be a very short conversation as far as I’m concerned.”
According to the ChristenUnie leader, we need to look broader than just refugees. In terms of influx, a city like Deventer is added every year, says Segers. And if you expand the comparison “only one of the neighborhoods is inhabited by refugees.”
The vast majority of that fictional city is inhabited by migrant workers, Segers says. “People who are brought here from elsewhere due to low wage costs and where housing costs are reduced as much as possible.”
Ruth in Brussels
He argues that a European policy is needed for this. “The European regulation of migration for work, which is good not only for employers, but also for the workers themselves, for the countries and families of origin and for the neighborhoods where they live”. It is up to Prime Minister Rutte to get this message to Brussels, Segers says.
ChristenUnie supports better protection of Europe’s external borders. The distribution of refugees between countries also needs to be better regulated. And Segers would prefer to introduce work permits for migrant workers.
Coalition Partners CDA in VVD have argued in recent weeks to limit the influx of asylum seekers, because the Netherlands would not be able to cope with the reception. For the VVD parliamentary group and members Restricting the influx was even a condition for accepting the dispersal law which was widely discussed.
Uncomfortable with power
Last summer the governing parties had already concluded an agreement on asylum to limit the influx, also curbing family reunifications. The immediate cause was the recurring chaotic scenes at the Ter Apel application center.
Part of ChristenUnie supporters think the party has crossed a moral lower bound with the asylum deal, it became clear at an extra party congress last month. Segers addressed members interested in his speech today. “I know very well that we can all get tired of stories about compromises as small steps in the right direction.”
According to the party leader, unease at ChristenUnie grows when the party is at the center of power. “I hope we’ll always keep it, uneasy with power,” Segers said. “But what’s even more inconvenient is to leave.”
