CDA deputy PM says he understands VVD anger over tax plan

CDA deputy prime minister Bart van den Brink says he understands why the VVD is angry over the handling of next year’s tax plan, but argues that anger does not mean the party is right. His comments came before talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten and VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz, amid strains in the coalition over financial policy.

“I understand that they are angry,” Van den Brink said. “But being angry does not mean you are right.”

He said cooperation within the coalition had been difficult, particularly on financial matters, and agreed that it needed “a reset, or a restart”. At the same time, he said the cabinet had delivered: the House of Representatives has passed the tax plan and a new proposal for a tax on realised gains in box 3, the Dutch system for taxing savings and investments.

The VVD withdrew its support for the tax plan after coalition partners D66 and CDA helped secure a majority for a proposal from opposition parties PRO and Volt that included a so-called millionaires’ tax. The plan passed without VVD backing.