Ministers Kaag and Bijleveld resigned in September because of the slow evacuation of Afghans who risked their own lives working for the Netherlands. State Secretary Broekers-Knol was involved in this as the person responsible for refugee policy but felt she could stay on.
After an interview last weekend, in which Broekers-Knol again showed unwillingness to implement the wishes of the House, SP MP Jasper van Dijk had had enough: 'A State Secretary who constantly impedes the evacuation, and juggles with figures has lost the SP's trust. Three strikes and you are out. That is why I have tabled a motion of no confidence.'
SP senator Tiny Kox has been nominated as chairman for the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe in 2022 and 2023. Following the rotation agreement between the five political groups, it is now up to the left-wing group to nominate a candidate.
ManiFiesta, the festival of solidarity, was organised for the 11th time this year by PVDA, the SP's Belgian sister party. The SP was also present, to raise awareness about the fight against nuclear weapons, among other things.
As of next year, new American nuclear weapons will be placed in Volkel. At the Volkel airbase, Dutch pilots are now ready to use the B-61-11 with their F-16s. The F-16s and its bombs are being replaced. Those bombs are for the F-35, which are equipped with the new B-61-12.
Despite the closure of Kabul airport, thousands of people are left in Afghanistan who are eligible for evacuation. The chances of them still getting to the Netherlands is small, especially after the horrific attacks that resulted in more than 85 deaths.
In 2007, the Dutch army was deployed at the battle of the Afghan Chora. 'The image we have of this military action is not sustainable,' say Jasper van Dijk and Jip van Dort.
