Nieuws van de afdeling

8 June 2016

Harry van Bommel: Learning from the failed ‘War on terrorism’

In March the Internationale Spectator published an interesting article on the Netherlands’ foreign policy by Han ten Broeke, Member of Parliament and foreign affairs spokesman for the governing centre-right party, the VVD. The article is, however, way off beam when it degenerates into an apologia for the disastrous military action carried out under United States leadership since the attacks of 9/11.

7 June 2016

Senate rejects far right PVV’s discriminatory proposal by huge majority

Foto: SP

The Senate today distanced itself by a huge majority from a proposal from the far right PVV to exclude 1.3 million Dutch citizens from jobs with the police, judicial services and defence forces on no other grounds that they hold dual citizenship. The exclusion would apply to all such citizens, without exception. SP Senate leader Tiny Kox expressed his delight at the Senate reaction to this scandalous PVV proposal, which goes against the Constitution, fundamental rights and traditions of the Netherlands.

6 June 2016

No means no !

In a referendum on 6th April the Netherlands gave a clear ‘no’ to the European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement. The government now appears to be interpreting this clear negative as offering a great deal more room for manoeuvre.

31 May 2016

SP proposal on forced prostitution wins Parliament's support

Foto: Michael Coghlan

A parliamentary majority has given its support to a legislative proposal from the SP, the Labour Party and the Christian Union which will make men who use prostitutes, despite knowing or having grounds to suspect that the latter have been trafficked, liable to prosecution. SP Member of Parliament Nine Kooiman answers three questions on the proposed law.

28 May 2016

SP urges mailing campaign to Stop TTIP & CETA

Foto: SP

Today is National Action Day in the Netherlands against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and US, and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada. These two treaties give a free hand to corporations and show no concern for workers’ rights, sustainability or safety. Democracy in the Netherlands and Europe hangs in the balance.

27 May 2016

‘Take more measures against illegal Israeli settlements’

Foto: SP

SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel is urging the Minister of Foreign Affairs to take additional measures to counter illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. “It’s a good thing that products from the settlements can no longer be sold in Dutch supermarkets with misleading labels which give the impression that the products come from Israel,” says Van Bommel. “But as long as Israel continues to extend the settlements and the occupation of Palestinian territory is maintained, more far-reaching measures will be needed. That’s why I’m advocating that an end be put to investments by pension funds such as ABP in Israeli banks which provide mortgages to colonists, enabling the further enlargement of the settlements.”

International