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Oomkes, Lex
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2 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
The Netherlands facing Greek fate
The Dutch interim minority government led by Prime Minister Rutte agreed on an austerity and reform package with three smaller parties on Tuesday night. But despite this pact the country may face a Southern European scenario after the early elections on September 12, the Christian-social daily Trouw warns: "With this agreement valuable time has been gained, but nothing more. The content of the agreement by no means signals that the five parties are willing to form a coalition after the election, much less that voters would make such a coalition possible. ... The Hollandes of this country are with the [social democratic] PvdA, and above all with the [socialist] SP and the [right-wing populist] PVV [which refused to sign the agreement]. Who's to say these three parties won't attain the majority in parliament on September 12? But if they do get a majority, unlike in France they won't appoint the government. So the uncertainty regarding the Netherlands' budget policy continues. It's not just in Southern Europe that big problems aren't addressed and countries become ungovernable."
» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Netherlands, » Europe
The Netherlands forgets how to treat minorities
The Dutch government on Friday approved a bill that introduces a ban on burqas. The country has forgotten how to treat its minorities, the Christian-social daily Trouw laments: "Today's democracy is increasingly dominated by a libertarian communis opinio according to which democracy is synonymous with the will of the majority. Oddly, libertarian doesn't mean that 'live and let live' is enough here. Today's democracy ensures more commands and more bans. Everyone must comply to the norms of the majority. ... The burqa ban is the most recent sad example of this. ... The art of accepting the uniqueness of minorities and yet including them in society is becoming increasingly rare in the Netherlands. On the one hand we are becoming increasingly liberal but on the other our fear of deviations from the norm is also growing. Not for nothing did the cabinet justify the burqa ban by saying it protected public safety."
» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Netherlands
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