The Dutch government is moving forward with a controversial plan regarding housing priority for refugees despite warnings.
The Dutch interim government announced that it will proceed with legislation to end the priority of certain refugees in obtaining social housing, despite sharp criticism from the Council of State (Raad van State). The council warned that the plan could lead to unequal treatment under the law and may violate the constitution.
Housing Minister Mona Keijzer defended the move, stating that the current rules are unfair to Dutch citizens who may wait up to ten years to get a home. She said after a government meeting on Friday: "Refugees are offered a home just 14 weeks after obtaining their residence permit. This is impossible to explain to people who have been waiting for years."
The government confirms that the reform will provide everyone with equal opportunities in the housing market, including refugees who remain eligible for urgent housing for medical or personal reasons. However, critics point out that refugees are already facing significant difficulties. Approximately 18,000 refugees with residence permits are still stuck in asylum centers due to a lack of available housing, even though they were supposed to have moved to regular housing a long time ago.
The government proposed alternatives such as buying or renting homes outside the rent control regulations, co-housing, or moving in with relatives. It also emphasized that what far-right groups claim is not true; refugees do not automatically receive priority at the expense of Dutch citizens. If they are offered a home, they must accept it even if it is not entirely suitable, otherwise they may face eviction from shelters.
This plan differs from the more stringent amendment proposed by the far-right MP from the PVV party, Jeremy Moiman, which sought to prevent granting emergency housing status to anyone who does not hold Dutch nationality. This amendment temporarily passed when several left-wing MPs were absent, and it would have also affected students, migrant workers, and foreign spouses of Dutch citizens. Mona Keijzer considered this measure unconstitutional.
With the parliament going on recess before the upcoming general elections, the discussion and voting on the bill will be left to the new MPs, paving the way for a heated political battle over housing and refugee rights.