The new government wants to cut around two billion euros from education, one billion of which will impact higher education institutions and scientific research. Five left-wing opposition parties, led by GroenLinks-PvdA, reject these cuts as “unacceptable”.
Together with SP, Denk, Volt and PvdD, they are proposing cuts of two billion to the business sector. For example, by doing away with fossil subsidies and other tax breaks.
Red line
In a press release, the left-wing parties remind the government that it lacks a Senate majority. Member of the House of Representatives Luc Stultiens points out that if the opposition parties form a united front, the cuts can still be blocked. “Our hope is that the entire opposition draws a red line this week”, he said
But D66, CDA and JA21 have come up with a less rigorous alternative that involves rolling back ‘a mere’ 1.3 billion euros in cuts. The backing of these three parties would enable the government to steer its education, culture and science budget through the Senate. Meanwhile, ANP reports that the Christian Union has also joined this camp.
Slim
The chances of the government opting for the left-wing alternative seems slim. The GroenLinks-PvdA alternative of using the business sector to bridge the gap is unlikely to win support from the VVD. Luc Stultiens has put forward an amendment that includes scrapping a tax break for property investors and eliminating fossil subsidies. The opposition also wants to raise 800 million euros by combating corporate tax evasion.
HOP, Olmo Linthorst
Translation: Taalcentrum-VU