ANP
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 22:19
An hours-long parliamentary debate about the benefits affair tonight became very emotional, but has not provided any prospect of quicker solutions for parents in trouble.
Members of parliament from left to right expressed – not for the first time – their dissatisfaction with the lack of a solution for “much too long”, but at the same time feel powerless. Many parents who have been duped in the benefits scandal are still waiting for compensation.
Parties in the House are furious that the recovery operation has stalled again. Nieuwsuur recently reported that employees of the Implementation Organization for Recovery Allowances (UHT) are getting bogged down in internal rules and procedures. Staff turnover is also high and there is said to be a culture of fear in which civil servants do not dare to raise internal problems. Not the problems of affected parents, but internal rules would be central.
“How do we ensure that people can start living again? There is only one life,” said SP MP Leijten. She doesn’t understand how this can take so “fucking long”. “Families have been imprisoned for three years,” said Leijten.
The ruling party CDA spoke of a “nightmare” in which the recovery has ended up. An emotional member of parliament Van Dijk believes that Secretary of State De Vries should show “more leadership” and increase the pressure to solve the problems. Her stomach turns, she said, though she acknowledged she doesn’t have the “golden bullet” either. The SGP sees that the solutions have ended up in a “legal quagmire”.
Parents sitting in the stands sang Davina Michelle’s song Takes too long. The debate was then suspended for some time.
Parents surcharge affair protest singing during debate: ‘Takes too long’
MPs Omtzigt, Azarkan (Denk) and Leijten (SP), among others, called for Prime Minister Rutte to attend the debate at several points in the debate. There was no majority in the House for that request.
State Secretary De Vries acknowledged – not for the first time either – that it all takes “absolutely long”. But people and officials are also “doing their best,” she said. De Vries indicated that she is not going to “do everything differently” or “throw it overboard”. Now “starting again from scratch” would only cause more delays, according to the State Secretary.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Rutte said that he does not share the fear that compensation for victims of the benefits affair will last until 2030, as the Association of Dutch Municipalities believes. Member of Parliament Omtzigt, among others, wanted to know from De Vries whether she also thinks so, but the State Secretary did not want to comment.
SP Member of Parliament Leijten called that “extremely false”. By not giving a deadline, De Vries throws people “in front of the bus”, according to Leijten.
“I can’t break iron with hands”
De Vries said he understands that everything is very frustrating for parents. She also said that she is really willing to see where things can be done faster. But she says she cannot “break iron with her hands”, she does not want to “promise things that cannot be fulfilled”.
“Who’s stopping a solution then?” PVV MP De Graaf wondered aloud. He concluded that “these people are not important enough for the cabinet.” He said he believes the secretary of state is fighting, but she “really needs to fight even harder”.
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