International

On the initiative of the SP, a parliamentary inquiry will be held on anti-fraud campaigns by government services. The SP, fronted by Renske Leijten, wished the parliament would employ the heaviest means available. SP-leader Lilian Marijnissen: ‘It took almost two years, but perseverance pays off. Now we can really break open the cesspool of the benefits affair. The parents deserve justice, and the Netherlands deserves a fair government.’

A proposal by the SP and D66 to increase pressure on pharmaceutical companies to share their knowledge and rights for the production of coronavirus vaccines has been adopted in parliament. With this, the government is instructed to put words into action considering the Netherlands’ support of the knowledge pool of the WHO.

For four years, teachers in primary education have been fighting for better wages and less work pressure. The demand? The same wages as their colleagues in high schools. Until now, the political establishment were cross.

Tuesday, the parliament supported a proposal of the SP and VVD to help youths who get in to trouble during the lockdown. Students who want to become teachers or social workers can, as a job or as an internship, help youngsters who get in to trouble due to the corona crisis.

Over the last week it became painfully clear how the financial sector and casino capitalism works. On the stock market, large investors, so called ‘hedge funds’ had betted large sums on the demise of an American computer game chain store, Gamestop. When masses gathered on the internet to keep the company up and running by buying stocks on a large scale, these investors started losing money. Because powerful capitalists came under pressure, the rules of the market were suddenly changed.

Finally, the proposal to increase wages for health care professionals has been adopted. On various occasions, leader of the SP Lilian Marijnissen, submitted proposals for a fair reward for our health care professionals. It should not be limited to applause only. On September 5th, we held the largest online manifestation on the Malieveld ever, and we collected more than 120.000 signatures for a fair reward. 

A ‘political thriller’, is what D66-senator Boris Dittrich called the debate in the First Chamber on Wednesday. The former political leader and current thriller-writer did not stoop to these words on accident. In the Second Chamber, the debate of the day was on the fall of the government, and the child-support affair, which also exposed the gap between the policy machines in The Hague and life of the people in the country. Whilst the Second Chamber debated on the crisis in politics, the First chamber spoke about my proposal for a binding corrective referendum, which could contribute to restoring the confidence in politics.

In the debate on extra corona measures a majority of the parliament supported the initiative of the SP (together with GroenLinks, VVD and CDA) to ensure that companies who force their employees to unnecessarily work in office through a contact point, a team of inspectors and stricter regulations. The SP also supported the initiative to set the curfew half an hour later – at nine PM. 

In the debate regarding the fall of the cabinet because of the social benefits affair, SP-leader Lilian Marijnissen suggested a parliamentary inquiry. The heaviest means the parliament has. Marijnissen: ‘If you say ‘never again’ it’s vital that we understand what has happened and how we can prevent it in the fraud hunt. Then we can learn lessons from the past and draw conclusions to ensure this will never happen again in the future. And only then can we build toward a fair government.'