That is according to Reinier Castelein, chairman of the De Unie trade union.
“Trust in politics has never been lower. The purchasing power figures in this Budget Memorandum will only increase that distrust,” said Castelein.
“De Unie has long since stopped believing in generic purchasing power figures because they always relate to model households. No one fits into that mould.”
Castelein points to a number of topics that will receive attention in the near future.
“The debate over mortgage interest relief is set to feature in the election debates. Meanwhile, this is only serving to increase uncertainty amongst the public. There is no clear explanation of how the defence budget is to be funded, even though the Netherlands has committed itself to the NATO 5% standard.”
But the list is much longer. “The promise to arrange free childcare is unachievable. The voter who already voted for that in 2016 is already seeing their children go to secondary school. The labour shortage alone will ensure that there isn't a place for every child. That doesn't even cover how it will be paid for. Because free doesn't exist. There will always be a taxpayer who is designated for it.”
This Prinsjesdag is different from other Prinsjesdagen where a cabinet is demissionary. This time there are elections shortly after the State Opening of Parliament. “This means that politics not only lacks the trust of the citizen, but actually tarnishes the King's dignity.”
Apart from the criticism the Royal Family sometimes receives, it is one of the last institutions with real authority, according to Castelein. “How wonderful would it be if the King threw away the King's Speech written by the cabinet and said that he does not accept this shoddy work and that he expects better next year and that he would then have a beer with the citizens along the procession in The Hague.”
Regarding the purchasing power schemes that the King is speaking about today, a decision will only be made after the elections. Therefore, there will be a completely new parliament. “The new House of Representatives will be tinkering with these schemes again soon. And that not only makes the purchasing power schemes unsuitable, they will also be changed. And that makes today's purchasing power promise completely unbelievable.”
