Dutch get new government

Daily Telegraph ^ | July 01 2002

[knighthawk]

THE HAGUE: Three far-right and centre-right parties have reached a deal paving the way for a new government in the Netherlands, more than six weeks after an election overshadowed by the murder of flamboyant populist politician Pim Fortuyn.

The Liberal Party (VVD), Fortuyn's far-right Pim Fortuyn List (LFP) and the conservative Christian Democrats (CDA) will present the deal to Parliament on July 4. The future coalition government is expected to incorporate some of Mr Fortuyn's tough proposals on stemming immigration and asylum seekers in the traditionally liberal country.

Last month, the three parties agreed that immigrants would not be allowed to request political asylum if they entered the Netherlands without identity papers – which the press says is the case for 80 per cent of asylum seekers.

The parties also said at the time that they would attempt to allow "the least possible number of immigrants" to enter the country, particularly by limiting the number of family members immigrants can bring in.

The economy also figures high on the coalition's agenda, with a proposed austerity program that would save the state €6.5 billion ($11.37 billion).

But weak economic growth – zero in the first quarter of the year – means proposals to cut fuel tax and property deductions can only be implemented in 2004 or 2005.

The government-forming agreement was preceded by 35 days of talks between the parties and Piet Hein Donner, a CDA member appointed as negotiator by Queen Beatrix.

[knighthawk]

It's official!

[knighthawk]

It's official

[facedown]

But weak economic growth – zero in the first quarter of the year – means proposals to cut fuel tax and property deductions can only be implemented in 2004 or 2005.

This is backwards! Tax cuts cause growth - you don't wait for growth to cut taxes. There may be a deficit for a time but the growth will come.

[xJones]

Great news!

Three far-right and centre-right parties...

Don't you just love that characterization? This is a serious case of a leftie reporter with a wedgie.

The future coalition government is expected to incorporate some of Mr Fortuyn's tough proposals on stemming immigration and asylum seekers in the traditionally liberal country.

Last month, the three parties agreed that immigrants would not be allowed to request political asylum if they entered the Netherlands without identity papers which the press says is the case for 80 per cent of asylum seekers.

Take back the Netherlands!

[Shermy]

This is backwards! Tax cuts cause growth - you don't wait for growth to cut taxes. There may be a deficit for a time but the growth will come.

Per EU rules, they can't run a budget deficit more than 3%.

[knighthawk]

The announcement already affected the number of people seeking asylum here: it dropped considerable. Also the police/INS is sending illegals back, which was very unusual when the left was governing.

[fortress]

Good news! I would love to see them succeed and maybe we can follow Holland by electing a Republican led Congress and Senate in November.
Just for once give Republicans a chance to show us they are really Conservatives.

[fnord]

could be the start of something big :-)

[knighthawk]

And beat the Dems in the next elections.

[knighthawk]

Just imagine the whole EU moving to the right. That would really be something.

[dr_who]

Europe is backwards. American Democrats, Journalists, and even many Republicans have been thinking this way.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Please add me to your ping list. I was just wondering today what was going on with this. (It's been a bit busy out in the US west, what with the government employees and eco-nuts setting the woods afire.)

Regards, Slim

[dr_who]

They had a chance already, remember.

[McGavin999]

Congratulations knighthawk, it looks like you're on the way to reclaiming your country.

[THX 1138]

Three far-right and centre-right parties... Don't you just love that characterization?

Yeah. I wonder just how "far right" these guys really are?

In Europe, anyone to the right of Trotsky is regarded with suspicion.

[knighthawk]

Thanks, I am looking forward to see what changes will be made. I hope things will settle down here now, and we can undo all the things the lefties did here.

[xJones]

The announcement already affected the number of people seeking asylum here: it dropped considerable. Also the police/INS is sending illegals back, which was very unusual when the left was governing.

Good for the Netherlands! But I have no room to talk. America is being overrun by illegals and we aren't doing anything substantial about it.

[aristeides]

Great news! What ministries will the Lijst Pim Fortuyn get?

[knighthawk]

I hope that will be announced this week. Nothing is certain about this yet. But they really wanted to get the minister for culture to get revenge on the public media for what they did to Fortuyn. This could be very nice if they kicked the lefties out of the media. The news about this went as a shockwave through the Dutch public media, suddenly the are not as opposed the the LPF as they were!