Will we have a cabinet crisis or will the CDA give up? On Tuesday, the House of Representatives will hold an emergency debate on the statements of CDA leader Wopke Hoekstra, which according to his party, the 50 percent nitrogen reduction by 2030 is no longer a sacred goal. Local CDA departments in Brabant hope that Hoekstra will keep his back straight.
The talks with Remkes are stuck, says the CDA faction in the House of Representatives. Party chairman Pieter Heerma tries to explain Hoekstra’s words in the debate: If we can’t figure it out with Remkes, we must be able to let go of the 2030 deadline.
Heerma’s explanation is subject to a lot of criticism. The talks with Remkes are not intended to adjust the cabinet’s agreements. The CDA refuses to clarify in the House whether they will continue to support cabinet policy. They won’t say that until Remkes’ report is ready next week.
Heerma has to get the chestnuts out of the fire for Hoekstra. Hoekstra is present at the debate, but not as party leader. He is there as part of the cabinet, so as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On Friday, CDA leader Hoekstra distanced himself from the nitrogen targets set by the cabinet in a major interview in the AD. According to Hoekstra, the 2030 deadline does not necessarily have to be adhered to. A statement that has caused great unrest in the cabinet.
Local CDA departments
A day after the interview in the newspaper, various local CDA departments around the Peel spoke with Hoekstra. They have asked him to keep his back straight. They prefer to see a change of course in nitrogen policy. Earlier, 30 local departments from Brabant and Limburg already issued a statement about the nitrogen dossier.
The CDA is under great pressure. The nitrogen policy leads to a storm of farmers’ protests. In the polls, the Christian Democrats see that their traditionally large following is beginning to shrink. Many voters switch to Caroline van de Plas’ party, the BBB. With the provincial elections in sight, the CDA wants to do something for the farmers’ supporters.
Confess
Opposition and collation parties will want to know on Tuesday what Hoekstra’s statements mean for nitrogen policy. Does Hoekstra adhere to the agreements made in the coalition agreement? Or do we have a new political crisis? The CDA must in any case show color.
The emergency debate has been requested by the PVV. The party has announced that it intends to table a motion of no confidence against the cabinet. The chances of that move succeeding are slim.
Follow the debate live.