International

On the initiative of the SP, Agriculture Minister Gerda Verburg has been instructed by Parliament to return to Brussels to negotiate a ban on the force-feeding of ducks and geese with other EU member states. Foie gras, produced from the livers of geese and ducks which have been force-fed to the point where these organs become morbidly fat, is regarded as a delicacy, but can be made only at the cost of serious maltreatment of the fowl.

Today parliament held a debate with the government on the latter's "autumn finance note". Central to the discussion was the question of the extent to which the government's budget must be readjusted. SP finance spokesman Ewout Irrgang's view is that cutbacks would in present circumstances be ill-advised. He argues instead for investment in the economy. But he aimed his fire also at "failing, grasping, and until recently exceptionally arrogant bankers.”.