Parties in the House of Representatives are still reluctant to move to a temporary parliament next summer. Although new research shows that the building can be made corona proof, MPs still see objections.
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This week a new report was published stating that the temporary accommodation of the Lower House can still be made corona proof. By placing mudguards everywhere in the building and by ‘organizational measures’, the building on Bezuidenhoutseweg in The Hague could be opened as usual.
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Previous research showed that the property was not corona proof: the hallways were too narrow and the space around the lifts would be too small to keep a distance of 1.5 meters. At the request of the House of Representatives and State Secretary Raymond Knops (Home Affairs), a follow-up investigation was conducted, the outcome of which is now positive.
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Objections
Yet there are still objections among many parties in the House, anonymous MPs report to this newspaper. “It is really not just a matter of placing mudguards,” said a Member of Parliament. “Far-reaching rules of conduct are also proposed. For example, we should have lunch in blocks of twenty minutes and the elevators up to and including the third floor should not be used. ”
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According to concerned parliamentarians, the question is whether parliamentary work can be carried out properly with these measures. Chamber president Khadija Arib would not be convinced either. It is known that she has been at odds with State Secretary Knops for some time. Arib does not like the move, while Knops is pushing to move next summer.
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161 million euros
Quote They try to lift this key transfer over the Christmas recess
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The cabinet wants the House to make a decision about the move as soon as possible. This is necessary because of the large-scale renovation of the Binnenhof. For 5.5 years, MPs have to do their work in the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has recently been renovated for 161 million euros.
Sources around the cabinet state that the House is ‘deliberately opposing the move’. In fact, Arib should have received the key to the new building in mid-November, so that everything can be properly prepared. “They are trying to lift this key transfer over the Christmas recess,” says a source from The Hague. “Then it will just be too late: it seems that they are heading for another year’s delay.”
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Procrastination is costly
Government party D66 is – unlike other parties – outspoken in favor of moving. “Our basic attitude is positive”, D66 MP Jessica van Eijs said. “Especially considering that every postponement costs a lot of community money.” Knops said earlier that a year’s postponement costs 20 to 30 million euros.
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In the meantime, the House is still waiting for a ‘quick scan’ to see whether a phased renovation would be possible. With such a renovation in phases, the House of Representatives can be renovated without moving. In 2015 it was already decided not to do this, because this would be considerably more expensive.
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At the end of October we were already allowed to take a look at the intended temporary accommodation:
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