International

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.

It took many debates and proposals, but now the government has finally been convinced. Approximately 10,000 so-called 'amnesty recipients' will finally receive a passport after a 14-year wait. The people who were granted amnesty are the group of refugees who fell under the general amnesty in 2007. Due to bureaucracy, they did not receive a passport, which hindered their existence. They had a residence permit but no passport.

For decades, thousands of people at Defense had to work unprotected with hazardous substances. Many have become seriously ill or have passed away. Defence announced compensation, but for many victims that compensation is no more than 'a tip'. They shared their story at an emotional meeting preceding the debate in the House of Representatives. SP Member of Parliament Jasper van Dijk was present and brought their stories to the House. Van Dijk: 'It is heartbreaking to hear stories about people who are not believed by Defence. Or when you hear how much suffering they go through, but hardly get any recognition for it. These people have been plunged into misery by Defence and deserve generous compensation.”

Denouncing President Erdoğan’s onslaught on the democratic opposition in Turkey, The Left in the European Parliament, together with the Unified European Left at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - chaired by SP-senator Tiny Kox - urge the EU to speak out against authoritarian repression in the country as leaders gather for this week’s summit in Brussels.

Last week, the parliament supported a proposal by the SP to place solar panels on as many roofs as possible. Earlier, the SP presented a plan for 'sun on all roofs' ('zon op alle daken'). SP MP Renske Leijten: 'It is imperative that we fight the climate crisis. With this adopted proposal, we do this in a way that includes people instead of forcing them to bear the costs. Moreover, with this plan, the energy bill can also be reduced.'

Every year 40 million baby roosters are killed in the Netherlands, often on the same day they are born. The young roosters are gassed because they have no 'economic use'. Cruel and unnecessary, because there are alternatives.

Companies provided with government support during the COVID-crisis should not be paying bonuses. If they still do, they must be excluded from any future support payed for by taxpayers. That is the proposition that SP-representative Mahir Alkaya will be making during the 'accountability debate' held today in the house of representatives.
Alkaya: 'We see it happening at Booking.com, we see it at KLM; moneygrubbing directors who, despite their business accepting billions in COVID-related government support, are still receiving millions in bonuses. Because many major CEOs lack a moral compass, it befalls the government to set a clear course here. Companies who's directors get bonuses while receiving taxpayer money, as far as I'm concerned, will be excluded from future support measures, will not be invited along on trade missions, and will not be receiving financing from the national growth fund any longer. If the cabinet only keeps barking at these CEOs, but never bites, then the SP will.'

Request corona aid, but then use it to pay out a fat bonus? Booking.com wanted to abuse the corona aid they received from the government to pay 28 million in bonuses. Under heavy pressure, Booking.com will now be repaying the 65 million corona aid to the government. 'Very rightly so', says SP Member of Parliament Bart van Kent. 'We have campaigned strongly against this abuse of corona aid, and our proposal to have Booking.com pay it back has received the support of an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives.' Booking.com has now succumbed to the pressure.

In the past decades, hundreds of thousands of people in the military have had to work with hazardous substances without protection. As a result, many of them are currently seriously ill or deceased. 'Chromium-6' is a well-known example, but the military works with 5000 hazardous substances, of which no fewer than 500 are carcinogenic. For years, employees and their relatives have been engaged in a political and legal battle against the government: for recognition and fair treatment, yet they have been opposed at every turn. The RIVM, on monday, released a report on working with toxic substances, which shows that many more people have been exposed to the substances. At the same time the cabinet announced what the compensation scheme for victims should look like.