The council of the municipality of Dijk en Waard has fallen apart after eleven months. The local parties within the coalition no longer have confidence in the VVD party. “We are now actively investigating a collaboration with GroenLinks, the Labor Party and ChristenUnie.”
The Dijk en Waardse Independent Party (DOP), Local Dijk en Waard (LDW) and Senioren Dijk en Waard (SDW) say they have insufficient confidence to keep the cooperation with the VVD stable over the next three years. “After a start, we confidently identify a number of insurmountable problems that stand in the way of constructive cooperation.”
The proverbial knot was cut last night in a joint press release. In it, the parties conclude that the VVD faction fundamentally differs in its view on important subjects. “In the past eleven months, these differences have become increasingly visible,” write signatories Kees Tesselaar (DOP), Lea van der Zee (LDW), and Joke van Ruitenbeek (SDW).
‘Turn left’
VVD party leader Femke Lammerts is stunned by the decision of the local parties. “We are disappointed in the break and the ‘turn to the left’. Of course we differ in certain areas, but we could just keep talking about that. That only makes the decision-making better.”
One of the obstacles was the parking policy of Dijk en Waard. “It is important that a lot is built, but we are a commuter city. So there must also be the opportunity to have a car and park in front of the door,” Lammerts responds.
The parties also did not find each other in the asylum policy. “The VVD believes that we already do a lot as a municipality. Various discussions show that we differ in this. We must continue to talk to COA and political The Hague about what we are already doing and what we can contribute as a municipality.”
Tax increase
To close the budget gap, the coalition proposed to raise property tax (OZB) by 8.6 percent. During a debate about this, the VVD is said to have turned and asked the opposition to block the tax increase through an amendment.
That would cause a hole of eight tons in the budget. “Low local taxes are important to us. It should therefore come as no surprise that we do not agree with that tax increase. It is now the sum of all the price increases of energy and food. Precisely because we were loyal to the coalition, we have nevertheless, we complied with the proposal.”
The local parties now hope to form a new coalition with GroenLinks (GL), Labor Party (PvdA) and ChristenUnie (CU). “In the coming period we will start with the first talks.”