The PVV has little enthusiasm for an overly forgiving approach to fraud. MP Edgar Mulder said in response to the parliamentary inquiry into the derailed fraud policy that he does not want “parliament to immediately have to bake leniency” into legislation. “Because real fraudsters simply need to be tackled.” NSC and VVD are also unwilling to adopt the recommendations outright and have received harsh criticism from other parties for their reluctance.
The Netherlands is considering reversing an unpopular speed limit imposed because of EU climate targets, after a study showed it barely lowered nitrogen emissions.
GroenLinks-PvdA leader Frans Timmermans would join negotiations for a new Cabinet if the current round of formation talks between the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB collapse. The left-wing party will not work with the PVV, but “won’t immediately close the door” if the VVD comes calling and wants to take a different tack, Timmermans told Nieuwsuur.
PVV leader Geert Wilders said he was “reasonably positive about the progress of the Cabinet formation but acknowledged that it will be “a job” to provide a definitive answer by mid-May. “No major decisions have been made yet,” he said after meeting between the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB negotiators and the formation leaders. The fact that all the parties are still at the negotiating table “is already good news,” he thinks.