Minister Sigrid Kaag (Finance) is not primarily thinking of austerity measures as a solution for the potentially gigantic gap in the budget that the temporary price ceiling for energy will cause. She says this in response to questions about this from the left-wing opposition in the House of Representatives.
According to Kaag, it is a “conscious choice” by the cabinet to leave open how it will finance the many billions that the temporary price ceiling will cost next year. There is simply too much uncertainty to cover the plans “in an informed and sensible way”, according to the minister.
MPs Henk Nijboer (PvdA) and Mahir Alkaya (SP) wanted to hear from Kaag whether this would not leave the door wide open for cutbacks in, for example, care or education. She replied that she cannot rule out anything, but that is not her priority.
wealth tax
Kaag hopes that a solidarity levy for mining companies, which actually profit from the high energy prices, can make a contribution. But the outcome is still very uncertain. The same applies to the extra gas revenues, which the government has partly used this year to cover its purchasing power plans.
Kaag also hinted that, as far as she is concerned, taxing assets more heavily is one of the options. Windfalls in the budget can also be used if necessary. Nor does the minister rule out the possibility that the government will allow the national debt to increase. According to Kaag, the fact that she did not mention cutbacks as an option means that she is not thinking about this in the first place.