The cabinet can continue with the vaccination plan. In an extra debate during the Christmas recess, Prime Minister Rutte and Minister De Jonge of Public Health received sharp criticism of the approach today, especially from the opposition, but a majority of the House of Representatives is in principle behind the chosen course.
The opposition threw the cabinet among others for the feet that it was much too late with the vaccination compared to other European countries. The vaccines arrived two weeks ago and are in a freezer. GroenLinks leader Klaver called it unacceptable that precious weeks had been lost. PvdA leader Asscher spoke of a failure. Several parties also discussed a wobbly policy.
Motion of distrust
Opposition party PVV gave up its confidence in Minister De Jonge of Public Health. “You are not the right man in the right place”, said PVV leader Wilders. The PVV’s motion of no confidence received support only from Denk, Forum for Democracy and MP Krol, and not from the other critical opposition parties, such as GroenLinks, SP and PvdA.
“It is not fair”, said PvdA leader Asscher, who emphasized that the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport also has a difficult task and that not all problems can be blamed on him personally.
Errors
Yesterday had Minister De Jonge already admitted that his approach could have been better and that the Netherlands could have started vaccinating sooner, shortly after Christmas. Today he also apologized for saying in December that the start of the needle stick in other European countries was mainly “symbolic”. Despite all the criticism, he is not thinking of stepping down, he said in the debate. “I like to take responsibility. That is how I live life. That is part of making mistakes.”
De Jonge responds to a question from PVV leader Wilders:
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