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Pré, Raoul du
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5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Compromise only option for The Hague
The Dutch minority government is facing collapse after the right-wing populist Geert Wilders torpedoed negotiations on a 14 billion euro austerity package on Saturday. In view of the financial crisis in the country a compromise needs to be found, and quick, writes the left-liberal daily De Volkskrant: "The damage can only be repaired if the government adopts a new stance. The outstretched hand which Prime Minister Rutte so generously promised the opposition must now really be offered in a final attempt to find an answer to the crisis. The prime minister should show humility in the hope that others will decide to do business with him. It's pointless to cling to the strict three-percent budget rule because he knows that the opposition rejects it. This is also the opposition's responsibility. Overcoming the crisis can't wait until new elections are held. A compromise must be reached among the parties. ... This will require politicians who are willing to give and take."
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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Netherlands
New Year's fireworks should be banned
Several Dutch mayors called for a ban on high-power fireworks on Monday after at least 700 people suffered injuries and material damages running into the millions were incurred during New Year celebrations. The political decision makers must take the debate about a ban seriously, the left-liberal daily De Volkskrant demands: "Half of the victims were not injured as a result of their own mistakes. They were injured by fireworks set off by others. Then there's the fact that fireworks are a major factor in creating a nervous, aggressive climate on New Year's Eve. The cabinet and parliament have presented a single argument against a ban: many people like the fireworks. That's true, but the same applied in 1974 to driving after drinking a couple of beers. 'Many people' is also relative: four out of five Dutch citizens don't use fireworks. The politicians can no longer ignore this."
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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Society, » Netherlands
Wilders' words reach all the way to Norway
The Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders, who was named several times in the manifesto of the alleged killer in Norway Anders Breivik, has distanced himself from the attacks in Oslo and on Utøya. This is good but not enough, writes the left-liberal daily De Volkskrant: "Freedom of expression is fortunately very strong in the Netherlands. But besides the legal limits there are also those dictated by a politician's sense of decency and responsibility. Anyone who talks of Islam as if it were a terrible natural disaster akin to a 'tsunami', who talks of 'multicultural elites waging a total war against their own peoples' runs the risk that some unthinking person will get the impression it's time for drastic measures against that Islam and these elites. ... Wilders does not share blame for the Norwegian drama. ... But he has an obligation to realise how many people hang on his every word. His words have a far-reaching impact. This entails great responsibility."
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More from the press review on the subject » Politics, » Netherlands, » Norway
Greedy Fifa ignores football culture
The international football association Fifa has selected Russia and Qatar as the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively. But the daily De Volkskrant says the losing candidates Belgium and the Netherlands have no cause for disappointment: "Fifa demands [from the host countries] among other things general exemption from taxes, legal immunity for all Fifa functionaries and the suspension of all industrial safety regulations. Then there's the fact that Fifa itself is the target of mounting accusations of corruption and cronyism. ... We made too few concessions regarding the privileges it requested. The vote in favour of Russia and Qatar shows once more that Fifa gives preference to those countries that are willing to invest unlimited sums in a tournament and won't put any hurdles in its way. As long as Fifa values this more highly than the democratic status of a country or its football culture it will remain an unattractive partner for a country like the Netherlands."
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More from the press review on the subject » World championships, » Netherlands, » Global
The ignominious fall of Jan Peter Balkenende
Journalist Raoul du Pré comments on the resignation of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende on Thursday, June 29. The move came after Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk reversed her decision to revoke the Dutch citizenship of the Somalia-born former MP, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. "In a very short time, Balkenende went from being an unknown academic to prime minister. But his two governments suffered inglorious falls. ... Balkenende nonetheless had a dream start in politics. But the erosion of his image as a leader was as rapid as his ascent ... Has history known other heads of government who lost as many members of their cabinet in four years?" the journalist asks, offering up the long list of ministers who resigned.
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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Netherlands
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