【原文】Lib Dem seems to be turning against itself and is starting to lean slightly to the left

Original title: VVD voert oppositie tegen zichzelf en gaat iets naar links

Source: de Volkskrant

Author: Frank Hendrickx

Illustration: Bas van der Schot

The Liberal Democratic Party's (VVD) platform is seen by political opponents as the product of a cunning party in power. This time, liberals have followed the recipe for success of right-wing movements elsewhere: tough on immigration and crime, and soft on socioeconomics. That's how British conservative Boris Johnson conquered the left's stronghold in 2019. Now, the Liberal Democratic Party also follows this line of thinking.

The campaign platform drew mainly on the spirit of the party's former leader, Klaas Dijkhoff. In a 2019 discussion board, he has proposed the boundaries of the free market and argued that the government should do more to protect the middle class. "This has broad support within our party," the electoral package read.

The Liberal Democrats agree that the campaign message should be aimed at a wider range of voters, and the party leader is popular among illibers. They are secretly hoping that the party will achieve its best ever result with 42 seats or more.

The ruling direction of the Liberal Democratic Party

Despite the LDP's self-reflection ("we must dare to look in the mirror"), there are still some doubts. Schiphol Airport and the Port of Rotterdam will continue to develop, and the Netherlands continues to focus on attracting the headquarters of multinational corporations, but unlike in 2017, there is no mention of doing this by abolishing the tax on dividends.

The Lib Dem-ruled Netherlands will also continue to invest in road construction to restore a top speed of 130 kilometers per hour. Keep Borssele's nuclear power plant and possibly build a few more.

Their rhetoric on immigration remains harsh. Refugees with residency status must stay in "designated areas" until they are fully integrated. Municipalities are prohibited from prioritizing social rental housing. The maximum rent may be reduced for those eligible for social rental housing.

Policies on policing still sound the same as in the days of Ivo Opstelten (party chairman from 2008-2010). The LDP wants to try out an "educational program" to put criminal youth on the right path through "heavy daily physical training" under the supervision of veterans and defence reservists.

originality

At times, the LDP's platform looks like it's against themselves. In this way, the party hopes to "promote the rebuilding of the middle class" in the coming years. That's ambitious for a party that has just been in power for a decade. For example, there are many sentences in the platform aimed at eliminating opposition. For example: "It is unfair that the salary of the employees has not increased for several years, but the salary of the senior management of the company has increased significantly every year."

The LDP wants to eliminate this injustice. As Rutte puts it, the party's target cluster is "people with normal wages".

Liberals are offering tax benefits to this new target group, including the so-called "middle-income discount." Health care co-pays remain the same, and energy taxes are reduced. The party also wants to reduce costs for small businesses (a "middle-class discount") and make companies more willing to offer permanent contracts by lowering premiums. The minimum wage could also be raised slightly.

feasibility

As in previous elections, liberals pointed to the influx of immigrants as "unsustainable." And proposed the same solutions as the last election: "immigration deals with countries in immigration areas", criminalizing illegal immigration, "forcing" rejected asylum seekers to "leave", shortening the asylum process. The previous administration was unable to implement these plans due to political, executive and legal opposition. Nor will these barriers suddenly disappear in the next few years.

The bigger question is whether the measures the LDP wants to take when a new refugee crisis erupts are feasible. In an emergency, "suspend the right to apply for asylum in the Netherlands and close the Dutch borders". This is modifying or cancelling the UN Refugee Convention.

There is also disagreement within the party. Prime Minister Rutte has called the closure of the Dutch border "crazy". After a long study, the current cabinet believes that amending or canceling the UN Refugee Convention is an impossible task that will lead nowhere, as the Netherlands is also bound by a similar European agreement.