International

Last year, the SP carried out a survey of the Dutch fire brigade. The results were recently shared with the new Minister of Justice and Security. In the debate, the SP submitted several proposals concerning our fire service. SP Member of Parliament Michiel van Nispen wants fire fighters to have more say in decisions relating to their work: 'The Lower House supports us and the fire service. This is good news, because we need the input of the men and women of the fire brigade as to how we can improve their work'.

Parliamentary Assembly President Tiny Kox has condemned atrocities by the Russian army and promised all possible assistance in investigating war crimes following the first official visit to Ukraine since hostilities began.

Multiple left-wing parties in Europe have released a joint statement, calling for peace and to end the war in Ukraine. On behalf of the SP, MP Jasper van Dijk signed the Call for Peace, outlining an 8 point plan for peace, de-escalation en de-militarisation on the European Continent. 

Even the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, usually a supporter of neo-liberal economics, is now convinced: There is great inequality in the Netherlands, as low earners pay a much higher proportion of their income in taxes than the highest earners. Our tax system, which currently works to the advantage of the richest, needs a drastic change.

The failed experiment with the student loan system is finally coming to an end. Good news for new students who plan to start studying in September 2023. They will no longer have to get into sky-high debts. Students planning to start studying after the summer of this year will unfortunately still have to borrow. The SP believes that all students who fell under the student loan system should be fully compensated. 
During today's Question Time, SP MP Peter Kwint asked the minister whether he intends to fully compensate all students who are the victims of this failed experiment, including those who will be starting their studies after the summer.

The Council of Europe, the continent’s main institution governing human rights, voted to expel Russia as a member. The reason for the decision is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. 

It was a rather small news item. Investor Blackstone let at least 330 houses in Amsterdam stand empty. All this while we are facing a deep housing crisis and many people cannot find a suitable and affordable home. Blackstone claims that it wants to renovate the houses. That may sound noble but it is not the whole story. The investor is renovating houses in order to rent them out at much higher prices. In the Amsterdam West-Indische quarter, for example, rents went up from €500 to €2500 per month. Houses are a profit model for investors like Blackstone and co. Home seekers are the losers. And so is society as a whole. Blackstone has a trick up its sleeve to avoid paying any profit tax in the Netherlands. Housing prices are pushed up by investors, deepening the housing crisis. A new study by SOMO, commissioned by the SP, shows that Blackstone has no added value. High time to ban Blackstone en co.

A swift removal of the tax scheme that allows wealthy people to donate a ton of money tax-free, would not be possible, according to Minister of Finance Kaag’s initial reaction. This proved to be untrue when the SP persisted and the Minister’s own civil servants indicated that a substantial reduction of this perverse tax concession is possible. And so, the SP proposal to significantly reduce the bonus as early as next year received support from Parliament this week. In 2023, the sum over which no gift tax is to be paid will be reduced from EUR 106,671 to EUR 27,231. In 2024, the scheme will disappear completely.

On saturday a demonstration organized by the Dutch Socialist Party (SP) and the Party for the Animals (PvdD) attracted over 2000 people. On the Malieveld, there were speakers and Ukrainian folk music was played. After the demonstration, participants made a large peace sign, to support the appeal 'Stop the War'.