The Tweede Kamer wants to know as soon as possible whether, and if so, which Dutch politicians have been bribed by Russia. As long as this information is unknown, suspicions will hang over the political parties and the European elections in June, and that is harmful, the parliamentarians agreed in a debate on the Czech Republic's revelation of a Russian disinformation and bribery campaign, NOS reports.
The leaders of the PVV, VVD, and BBB would all like an explanation from Pieter Omtzigt about his NSC’s abrupt withdrawal from the Cabinet formation negotiations on Tuesday.
A group of left-wing and left-center political parties said they remain frustrated with Cabinet formation leader Ronald Plasterk, saying he “did not respond to the specific questions” they posed. They said on Thursday they want to explicitly know whether the parties which could form a new coalition government have already reached an agreement about safeguarding the rule of law.
According to outgoing Prime Minister and VVD leader Mark Rutte, his party lost many voters to Geert Wilders’ PVV in the campaign's last days because they wanted to prevent Frans Timmermans (GroenLinks-PvdA) from becoming Prime Minister. “They were afraid that the social democrats would win the election,” Rutte said in a conversation with students at the Hertie School of Governance during a visit to the German capital of Berlin.
Cabinet formation scout Ronald Plasterk must try to make up for the delay in the exploration process from today. The former PvdA Minister expressed hope to present a report next week, after which the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, can debate it. Plasterk will meet with the leaders of the four largest parties on Wednesday.