Nieuws van de afdeling

17 January 2022

The consequences of Rutte 4

Last week they were on the steps of the King’s palace, glowing with pride, the members of the 4th Rutte government cabinet. At the same time tens of thousands of people were in long queues in the cold city of Groningen. They were waiting for a chance to get some money to ease the misery of the impact of the earthquakes caused by gas extraction. The money available was sufficient for only half of the people. A matter of first come, first served. This was humiliating for the queueing people. It was shameful for our country. It was destructive to faith in government.

2 January 2022

The Netherlands is not going to rid the world of nuclear weapons

Foto: SP

The new Dutch government coalition agreement contains the promise of an active commitment to 'a world free of nuclear weapons'. How is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs going to do that? In the summer of 2022, the first four JSF aircraft will arrive at Volkel Air Base. The intention is that these fighter jets will be equipped with modernised nuclear bombs in the near future. This is a consequence of the NATO membership ('nuclear sharing'). It means that the Dutch air force is ready to deploy American nuclear weapons. In fact, the Netherlands is a nuclear weapon country.

17 December 2021

SP success: Ban on gambling advertisements

Foto: SP

A majority in the Lower House adopted the SP motion to ban gambling advertisements. SP MP Michiel van Nispen is delighted: ‘This is very good news. It is getting out of hand. Those advertisements have been everywhere since the market opened. And this is not something innocent. Persuading large groups of people to gamble online can lead to social misery. Therefore, we really need to stop these irritating and misleading advertisements. I am glad that the Lower House has forced the Minister to do so’.

15 December 2021

First reaction to the fourth Rutte cabinet

Foto: Joshua Versijde

The new cabinet is not going to solve people's problems. The fourth Rutte cabinet is an unreliable new start of the third Rutte cabinet. They are exactly the same parties, the same ideas and the same persons. How are they to provide solutions to the problems they caused themselves? They are unlikely to solve the benefits scandal, the housing shortage or the health care crisis.

7 December 2021

Tiny Kox wants to become President of the Council of Europe

Foto: SP

SP Senator Tiny Kox hopes to be elected president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in January in Strasbourg. The Netherlands had this post only twice since 1949. Never has a politician on the left of social democracy in Europe been given such a prominent position. Kox is currently chairman of the parliamentary SP party in the Dutch Upper House.

7 December 2021

No profit on the pandemic

Foto: SP

The SP supports European Citizens' Initiative 'No Profit on the Pandemic' for the free availability of vaccines and treatments against COVID-19. The petition campaign is a unique cooperation between more than 350 social organisations and left-wing parties from all over Europe.

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