The parliament votes on banning the burqa, asylum, and Gaza in a chaotic session
The burqa may soon be banned in all public places in the Netherlands after parliament approved a proposal late Thursday evening. What was supposed to be a discussion about next year's budget quickly turned into a campaign platform ahead of the general elections scheduled for October 29.
The proposal put forward by the VVD party, the BBB farmers' party, and the far-right JA21 party expands the current ban on the burqa in public buildings to include all public places. This initiative received a majority of votes, indicating that it may eventually become law. In addition, the MPs also voted to abolish the controversial 'distribution' law regarding the relocation of asylum seekers across the country, as well as to classify the radical leftist movement 'Antifa' as a terrorist organization, despite the government's legal objections.
Several other proposals related to combating energy poverty and child poverty were also passed. However, the discussion often strayed from budget issues. Interim Prime Minister Dick Schoof acknowledged that the session resembled an election campaign more than governance, noting that he "would not wish this position on anyone." The discussions on the second day were largely consumed by criticisms of the government's handling of the conflict in Gaza, with lawmakers calling for stronger action.
The parliament witnessed exciting moments alongside politics. Esther Ouwehand, the leader of the Party for the Animals (PvdD), appeared wearing a blouse in the colors of the Palestinian flag while presenting her proposals, prompting the parliament's president and politician from the PVV party, Martin Bosma, to ask her to change it. In another touching moment, a proposal from the Socialist Party to transfer injured children from Gaza to the Netherlands for treatment failed by just one vote.
The political scene remains tense. Dutch King Willem-Alexander called for a new mood of consensus in his budget speech, but discussions have been dominated by hardline positions. The leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Henry Bontebal, faced questioning about his proposal to impose a 'freedom tax' to fund defense. Meanwhile, the leader of the JA21 party, Joost Eerdmans, faced criticism for pushing to reopen gas fields in Groningen despite decades of earthquakes and damage to homes in the area.
At the same time, the leader of the far-right PVV party, Geert Wilders, has returned to his hardline tone after years of alleged 'moderation', using controversial statements about minorities and Islam, which some MPs say tests the limits of the constitution. With only six weeks left until the elections, the PVV is leading in the polls, followed by a strong comeback of the CDA party and the Green Left/Labor alliance (GL-PvdA) led by Frans Timmermans.