With two months to go until the municipal elections, CDA member Niels Peeters was sworn in as alderman in Maastricht last night. He is the successor of Vivianne Heijnen, who has become State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management in the Rutte IV cabinet.
Peeters was appointed despite protests from five opposition parties. They believe that Heijnen’s tasks could have been taken over by the other aldermen until the elections, reports 1Limburg.
The opposition points out that Maastricht must set a good example and tighten its belts now that the city is doing badly financially. The councilors of the five smaller parties state that financial sacrifices are being demanded in various sectors at this time and that it is now the turn of the city council itself. A motion to waive the appointment received insufficient support.
Peeters will take over the Economy, (Eu)regionalisation, Housing and Social Innovation portfolio from Heijnen. According to the coalition parties that together have a majority in the Maastricht city council, this is too important a portfolio to leave unattended, even for a short period of time.
Waiting money can add up considerably
After two months as alderman, Peeters is entitled to redundancy pay. The amount can be considerable. Last summer, the resigned councilor Michiel Wiersinga in Epe received 144,630 euros in redundancy pay for just over three months of work, reported Broadcasting Gelderland.
But the chance seems small that Peeters will make use of the arrangement. He plans to remain alderman in Maastricht after the elections. If he succeeds, he will receive an alderman’s salary and no redundancy pay.
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