The VVD party will not approach the mortgage interest deduction; it will avoid alliances with those who plan to reduce it.
The VVD party confirmed that it will not make any changes to the mortgage interest deduction feature and announced that it will not participate in any coalition government with parties seeking to reduce or eliminate this feature. Party leader Dylan Yesilgöz stated on the WNL Op Zondag program that families rely heavily on this support, adding: "If you managed to buy a house after great effort, we simply cannot take that away from you."
This statement has made the deduction of mortgage interest a major electoral issue, putting the VVD party in conflict with potential partners like CDA and GroenLinks-PvdA, who want to gradually eliminate this advantage. GroenLinks-PvdA proposes a plan over eight years, while CDA suggests a duration of 30 years. Both parties argue that this policy distorts the housing market, raises home prices, and gives homeowners significant advantages compared to renters.
The cancellation of this feature could lead homeowners to pay hundreds of euros more each month, but experts believe the impact will not be catastrophic if the plan is implemented gradually. CDA leader Henry Bontebal defended this approach as necessary, even if it is not popular. Meanwhile, VVD emphasizes that the housing market now needs "calm and stability." Critics point out that the party previously supported accelerating the cancellation of this feature during Rutte's third government, making this shift in position notable.
The VVD's position has also sparked internal criticism, as the party's youth wing, JOVD, attacked the decision, calling it "nonsense about the private corridor first," and called for broader policies to address the crisis of youth entering the heated housing market. Acting Defense Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf caused confusion when he hinted at the possibility of cooperation with GroenLinks-PvdA, but later retracted on platform X, confirming that cooperation with the left is "completely out of the question."
The VVD party is facing increasing difficulties ahead of the elections on October 29. Polls show it obtaining only between 14 and 18 seats, trailing behind the PVV, GroenLinks-PvdA, and CDA. With its refusal to work with parties that support reforming the mortgage interest deduction, the party's participation in the next government seems less likely.