LIVE | Rutte: do not change the link between AOW and minimum wage now | Inland

Follow the debate below from 10:15 a.m. via tweets from Parliamentary reporter Mike Muller.

However, it is being looked at how the purchasing power of pensioners can be restored in a different way, Rutte promised. But already promising that the temporary decoupling of the old age pension and the minimum wage will end is going too far: “Because it is still too early for that.”

Moreover, it is an expensive intervention: “It costs 2.4 billion euros per year, structurally. That is serious money.” The prime minister mainly hints at making adjustments via the elderly person’s tax credit or the AOW income support. He first wants to wait for the new economic figures from the Central Planning Bureau in March: “We will look at it all again in the near future.”

Green eye

Earlier in the debate, the Prime Minister lashed out at PVV leader Wilders for his statements about Minister Yesilgöz (Justice) and the VVD regarding his security. “It’s all so idiotic,” says Rutte, who complains that the PVV member did not answer a call from the minister. “You have fallen through a border for me.”

Wilders had tweeted about the appointment of Yesilgöz around the swearing in of the new cabinet. “A VVD member of Turkish descent on Justice. And let’s just hope she doesn’t lift my security because of course they prefer to see me disappear under the grass.” But the PVV member then did not respond to a call and messages from Yesilgöz, who wanted to talk to him about those statements. In his own words, because the VVD member had not yet been appointed as a minister at the time.

Watch the debate live here. Article continues below the video.

An ‘unbelievable excuse’, says Rutte: “I have never heard such a weak story.” In any case, the prime minister already had reservations that Yesilgöz wanted to call Wilders: “It’s all so idiotic.” Wilders responded by referring to Soumaya Sahla, once convicted of membership of the Hofstad group and now active for the VVD. The PVV leader therefore finds it strange that Rutte reproaches him: “Shame on you!” The prime minister was not impressed by that: “He is now coming with it to avoid that other point.”

Purchasing power

Rutte will also have to provide an answer to the broad concerns in the House about the lagging purchasing power, especially of the elderly. The opposition would therefore like to see the state pension increase along with the increase in the minimum wage, contrary to the government’s plans. The coalition does not want to participate in this, just like Prime Minister Rutte: “We are not going to make a commitment about that today.”

But the coalition parties are very concerned about the declining purchasing power of seniors. They ask the cabinet to come up with proposals to rectify those red numbers. Rutte can already give a first shot on Wednesday.

Rutte and Hoekstra to Ukraine

Rutte started the debate about the government statement with a warning to Russia for an escalation of the situation at the border of Ukraine. The ‘price for Moscow’ will then be ‘very high’, warns the prime minister, who will soon travel to the area with Minister Hoekstra (Foreign Affairs). Rutte starts the debate about the government statement, in which the House of Representatives mainly shared concerns about the purchasing power of the elderly.

Rutte speaks of a ‘very worrying’ situation in Ukraine, where Russia has gathered many troops at the border and there are concerns about an invasion. “The Netherlands opts for an approach of dialogue and pressure,” says the prime minister. Rutte argues for a ‘credible package of sanctions’ from the European Union. “The price for Moscow will be very high.”

Bergkamp

The eyes will also be on Wednesday again on Chamber chairman Bergkamp, ​​who was under fire on Tuesday because, in the opinion of several parties, she did not intervene hard enough in the contribution of PVV leader Wilders.

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