CDA leader Bontenbal calls sending tax plan to Senate without majority 'irresponsible'

CDA leader Henri Bontenbal once again described it as a gamble at the CDA party conference to send the tax plan to the Senate without having secured a majority. He said that he would continue doing his utmost over the coming days to secure a majority, as proceeding without one would otherwise be “irresponsible.”

According to Bontenbal, the minority government presented an opportunity to establish a different political culture, one in which greater cooperation takes place. He hopes that, over the coming days, the entire Tweede Kamer will work together to secure broad support for the tax plan. Several opposition parties have already announced that they will not support it.

In his speech, the CDA leader named 50PLUS and the ChristenUnie as parties that had taken a constructive approach in their discussions with the government. He also said that he wanted to consider the proposals put forward by other parties. These parties, including Pro and Volt on the left and JA21, SGP, and BBB on the right, have already repeatedly made their demands known during discussions with the government.

Botenbal hopes that it will become clear as early as Tuesday which proposals and amendments to the tax plan will secure a majority. “But that will probably come down to the last minute on Thursday.” The Tweede Kamer is scheduled to vote on the tax plan on Thursday. “I do not like it when things are left until the very last moment.”

Over the coming days, Bontenbal will do everything in his power to secure broad support for the tax plan in both the Tweede Kamer and the Senate. “To achieve that, I sill speak with everyone, from the left to the right.”

Bontenbal would prefer the coalition parties D66, VVD, and CDA to vote together as a united front. “We do not want to put one another in a difficult position.” However, he acknowledged on Saturday that, in an extreme situation, the parties may end up voting differently.