[Nicky91]

The Dutch government will present its 2021 spending plans on Tuesday afternoon, but without the traditional pomp and ceremony which normally accompany the event.

The king and queen will not drive to the parliamentary complex in a coach, and there will be no wave to the crowds from the palace balcony. But despite calls to stay away because of coronvirus, some royalty fans still gathered in front of the Noordeinde palace on Tuesday morning, hoping to get a glimpse of the king.

The main highlight – the king’s speech – has been moved from the Ridderzaal ceremonial hall to the Grote Kerk, to allow for better social distancing and there will be far fewer guests than on a normal Prinsjesdag.

As happens every year, many of the provisions of the budget have already been leaked.

Here is what we know so far:

The economy will contract by 5% this year but will grow in 2021 by 3.5%, if there is no second lockdown.
Unemployment will reach 5.9% next year
Spending power will rise by an average of 0.8%, with people in work benefiting from a 1.2% increase
Healthcare staff will get a further bonus of €500 next year, on top of the tax-free payout of €1,000 in 2020 but no structural pay increase
The basic tax rate currently 37.35% may be cut by up to percentage point
The planned reduction in corporation taxes for large companies will not now go ahead, but small firms will have to pay less and all companies with net profit of less than €400,000 a year will fall under the lower tax rate. The tax break for the self employed will be reduced in stages of €110 to €3,240
First time buyers will no longer have to pay a tax of 2% over the purchase price of their property – saving them some €4,000 on a home costing €200,000.

The spending plans will be presented to MPs by finance minister Wopke Hoekstra later in the afternoon, who will outline the financial constraints facing the government because of coronavirus, while announcing an increase in basic ministry budgets.

Unlike the financial crisis of 2008, when cuts were essential, this year the government wants to keep money moving, to speed up the recovery and strengthen the economy in the long term.

Hoekstra and economic affairs minister Erik Wiebes last week outlined plans for a €20bn investment fund which, the NRC said in its analysis, will help boost central government spending by some 11% this year.

Election

The 2021 budget must also be seen against the backdrop of the March 2021 general election. On Wednesday and Thursday MPs will debate the spending plans and, the Volkskrant says in its analysis, all will be looking to score points and set out their positions ahead of the vote.

This will be difficult in particular for the Christian Democrats (CDA) and Liberal Democrats (D66), whose leaders are both part of the current coalition and will have to defend government policy.

The kings speech will be broadcast live on radio and television.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/0...nomic-message/

[Nicky91]

however if we go into lockdown again (what we most definitely do not want) then all of this budget day news can be thrown into garbage bin, and we would be in another devastating economic crisis

[Nicky91]

Polls: far right party PVV (party of freedom) (Wilders) again second most popular behind the PM's party VVD

3rd place goes to: CDA, 4th place: GroenLinks (Greens) 5th: D66 6th PVDA (Labour)

in 7th and 8th respectively are FvD (Baudet) and SP (Roemer)

[Nicky91]

also people have more confidence in Rutte as PM now in times of Coronacrisis

6/10 dutch people show strong support for Rutte


just support for far right groups PVV, FvD are negative about Rutte


majority of dutch people are worried about effects on economy from coronacrisis, and they dislike the government's financial aid for countries like Italy, Spain

[Nicky91]

vice-pm, minister Koolmees is designated survivor, he is absent from this budget day speech meeting

and will be reserve pm, in case something happens to Rutte


King Willem: Invest enough, do not look at economic worries too much, Invest in job securities for youth, stable economy through lots of working people, and a cleaner netherlands, he also had a moment for back in May 4th at remembrance day it being more quiet than any other year, and he thanked all care workers, and everyone else who did a great job at the frontline of this virus pandemic crisis

[Nicky91]

heat record also broken: Hottest prinsjesdag (budget day) ever

already 31 degrees, and it will go up to 33 degrees

[Nicky91]

Princess Amalia, when she will be our queen, she will earn about 1.5 million euro a year

[The Slim Reaper]

Why don't you create Nicky's Dutch megathread and keep all this in one place? I know MTVN likes to keep his finger on the netherlands pulse, but he often bemoans the fact he has to go searching different threads to get uptodate.

[Nicky91]

''Discrimination is Unacceptable''

don't judge people on colour, ethnicity or name

what our King also said in his speech


also crucial these times will be our government to act in helping many groningers with restoring their homes after quake damage (from oil drilling) and helping many parents with debts, to get rid of those debts as fast as possible

[Nicky91]

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/0...orning-papers/

what the papers say

Financieele Dagblad
The Financieele Dagblad headlines its editorial ‘investing is good, more investing is better’, and highlights the ‘sober’ position the government’s finances are now in, given the Netherlands had a budget surplus of €14bn at the end of last year. ‘But no-one is talking about making cuts and putting up taxes, now that coronavirus has plunged the Netherlands into an economic crisis of unheard off proportions,’ the paper says. The government’s decision to boost spending to drive economic growth is supported by several key advisors, including the CPB and the president of the Dutch central bank, the paper points out. However, the new €20bn investment fund looks pretty stingy when compared with Germany (€130bn) and France (€100bn), the paper says. ‘This crisis, the worst in almost 100 years, may well demand more ambition from The Hague.’ Let us be clear about this,’ the paper says. ‘Hankering after Dutch thriftiness, can cost the country dear.’

Telegraaf
‘We are really going to feel the crisis,’ the Telegraaf warns on its front page, coupled with a quote from king Willem-Alexander about how strong the country is. And in an editorial, the paper says the government’s strategy for coping with the financial impact of coronavirus is a ‘sensible’ one. The Netherlands can permit itself to increase the national debt to over 60% of GDP, the paper said, pointing to the situation in Italy, Greece and ‘even Belgium’. This sensible strategy will allow the Netherlands to absorb the worst of the blows, the paper said. ‘It underlines once again that our country should not be bothered by EU countries that in recent years have been guilty of cowardly choices and financial mismanagement,’ the paper said. ‘Solidarity is not a one-way street.

Volkskrant The Volkskrant’s headline reads ‘spending money without a care, despite speech concerns’, illustrated by a photo of prime minister Mark Rutte and health minister Hugo de Jonge smiling at each other across the Grote Kerk floor. Referring to the sunshine on this ‘remarkable budget day’, the paper says in its editorial that ‘rising expectations and falling economic prospects form a flammable combination.’ The FNV is demanding a 5% pay rise and the ‘healthcare heroes’ also want more money, the paper says. ‘And why not, you may ask, given that money appears to grow on trees’. ‘But we do not know what the future will bring and it is better to keep our financial buffers. The cabinet must manage expectations and that is going to be a real challenge in an election year.’

AD The AD focuses on the cabinet’s decision to ‘let the money roll’. ‘This cabinet is seizing its last opportunity to prove itself,’ the paper says, in a reference to next March’s general election. ‘Despite the coronavirus crisis, Rutte’s third cabinet is trying to complete its mission, which is evidence that the political midfield still has a role.’ ‘At the moment this cabinet can smother criticism by spending,’ the paper said. ‘And even including the cost of the third support package, the national debt will remain among the lowest in Europe.’ ‘But the cabinet is gambling that there will not be a second coronavirus wave’ which will severely impact on both economic growth and unemployment, the paper said. ‘And with a general election ahead of us, everyone is hoping that a more gloomy economic forecast will not be necessary’

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