Dutch opposition irritated as Eerenberg delays revised tax plan

Dutch state secretary Eelco Eerenberg says he will present a revised tax plan next week, after a week of talks with opposition parties. The announcement has irritated MPs who are due to debate the current version on Monday, without knowing what changes the government may make.

“It would be useful to know what the latest version is,” said Luc Stultiens of PRO. Jimmy Dijk of the Socialist Party (SP) said Eerenberg should still assess the suggestions made in parliament, warning: “Otherwise this will be a debate about nothing.”

The tax plan does not currently have enough support to pass. Both left- and right-wing opposition parties want a different distribution of the tax burden. Left-wing parties want lower taxes on workers and higher taxes on wealth; right-wing parties also want lower taxes on workers, but have attached other demands to their support.

The dispute follows an invitation from PRO leader Jesse Klaver to Prime Minister Rob Jetten to negotiate over the plan. Klaver has said his party could support it if the burden on workers is eased by asking the wealthiest to contribute more. Talks were due to resume with a vote scheduled for 12 November.