BBB hopes for progress in Dutch government talks before tax-plan vote

BBB leader Henk Vermeer hopes talks with the Dutch government and three right-wing opposition parties will make “sufficient progress” over the next two days, as the House of Representatives prepares to vote on the tax plan on Thursday. A parliamentary majority for the plan is not yet in sight.

BBB, JA21 and the SGP are seeking stricter migration policy, a pause on changes in medical-ethical policy and a scaling back of the government’s nitrogen plans. The cabinet has resisted further concessions on nitrogen, according to ANP.

SGP leader Chris Stoffer said the parties were prepared to talk with the government “until the last minute”. He said they could not use the tax plan itself to secure changes to their demands, but might press for them during separate budget debates, including on agriculture. Stoffer said the parties were also approaching all the budgets constructively.