Nieuws van de afdeling

11 December 2006

SP leader Jan Marijnissen: CDA – SP cooperation unfortunately not possible

On the basis of exploratory meetings between the 'informateur' – a neutral person appointed by the Queen to advise on the composition of a new government – and the leaders of the Christian Democrats (CDA), the Labour Party (PvdA) and the SP, it now seems unlikely that the three parties will be able to form a coalition government. Mr Rein Jan Hoekstra's conclusion after repeated talks was that the differences between, in particular, CDA and SP were too great to allow them 'to come in the short term' to an agreement enabling 'stable and fruitful cooperation'. This decision stems from the CDA's desire to take the policies of the pre-election government of Jan Peter Balkenende as its starting point, policies which it seems determined to continue. In addition, the CDA is reluctant to put itself in a position where it forms the minority of a cabinet composed of its own ministers but also those of two parties to its left, the PvdA and the SP. It is particularly unwilling to do this given the clear majority in parliament of parties favouring a change in policy.

8 December 2006

REACH: Industry more important than public interest

The SP will vote next week against the directive introducing a new system of controls on chemicals, REACH. Explaining the decision, SP Euro-MP and European Parliament Environment and Public Health Committee member Kartika Liotard said, “This is one more example of power politics in which the interests of industry have been put before those of the general public.” Referring to the United Left Group/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), in which the SP’s members participate, she said that “My group together with the Greens will be submitting an alternative package of amendments.”

7 December 2006

Study Group on Iraq can't find emergency exit

America will not withdraw completely from Iraq, but will gradually reduce the number of its troops there. That is the most important conclusion of the report of the American Study Group on Iraq published yesterday. Commenting on the report, SP foreign affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel described it as "too cautious, and insufficient. The Study Group should have pointed Bush towards the emergency exit, but has somehow missed it."

6 December 2006

Foreign Minister Bot agrees to SP request to order enquiry into illegal organ trade

Foreign Minister Ben Bot has responded to a request from the SP to have the Dutch ambassador for human rights in China look into the question of illegal trade in human organs. SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel is concerned over reports that organs are being removed from executed prisoners without their prior permission

4 December 2006

Parliament sees information rationed in answers to questions on alleged abuses in Iraq

The government’s answers to eighty-one parliamentary questions on the alleged abuse of prisoners in Iraq provide little in the way of clarification, according to SP foreign affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel. “That the Dutch intelligence services use controversial interrogation methods is indeed obvious,” said Mr Van Bommel, “but the Van den Berg Commission (which was responsible for investigating the country's involvement in Iraq) must make it clear whether Geneva Convention rules have been broken.” The SP Member of Parliament believes that, together with colleagues from all sides of the house, he has been subjected to unnecessary “information rationing”.

1 December 2006

SP calls for parliamentary debate on open borders for workers from new EU member states

SP Member of Parliament Jan de Wit wants to see a parliamentary debate on the government's determination to open the Dutch labour market fully to workers from Poland and seven other central and eastern European countries in just under a month from now. The cabinet issued a statement today to the effect that sufficient measures had now been taken to prevent the creation of unfair competition in the labour market, but the SP remains unconvinced.

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