The parties of the PvdA and GroenLinks will not support the spring memorandum, they reported in a statement on Tuesday. According to the parties, there is insufficient support for people who find themselves in financial difficulties due to inflation.
GroenLinks and the PvdA want, among other things, an extra allowance of 500 euros for people who receive health care allowance. They also believe that the rents of all social housing should be frozen and lowered if the houses are not well insulated. The parties want to obtain the more than 2.5 billion euros that are needed for this from companies “that are making extra profit due to the energy crisis”.
The coalition has enough seats in the House of Representatives for a majority, but falls short in the Senate. The two left-wing parties were able to help the coalition get a majority there, but now the cabinet will have to seek support from, for example, the right-wing faction Nanninga.
The current budget can be adjusted in the spring memorandum, but it is usually not the case that the entire cabinet policy will then be overhauled.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Sigrid Kaag (Finance) made a round of all political parties last month to discuss the memorandum. After their conversation with the ministers, GroenLinks and the PvdA already expressed their disappointment. “We missed the urgency,” said Klaver afterwards.
Party leader Jesse Klaver (GroenLinks) and party leader Attje Kuiken (PvdA) support the plan to form a joint faction in the senate. It will become clear on Saturday whether the members of their parties also agree to this.