This week the House of Representatives was buzzing with emotion during the debate on the Groningen gas dossier. There was a lot of anger and sadness visible: both among politicians and among Groningen residents in the public gallery.
The parliamentary committee of inquiry wrote in February that there was “unprecedented system failure”, and that the government had “seriously failed” to protect the interests of the people of Groningen. And that hard conclusion – and the government’s response – was discussed in the House this week. Prime Minister Mark Rutte had to explain why he is responsible, but does not want to step down.
In these Hague Affairs we focus on the debate. You will hear about the run-up to the debate, how it went and what the political balance was. And we are talking about Groningen itself: what does this debate mean to them? Has a solution come a little closer?
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- Guests:
- Claudia Kammer & Derk Stokmans
- Presentation:
- Gus Valk
- Editorial & production:
- Iris Verhulsdonk & Vita van Lennep
- Edit:
- Peter Baker
- Photo:
- Phil Nijhuis/ANP