Because she did not want to sign royal awards for refugee helpers, the right Dutch Minister Faber is criticized. It is not just about your future, but about that of the cabinet.
It is something like the Dutch Federal Cross of Merit: the royal order, which is always awarded to earned Dutch citizens in April. The award is presented by the mayors on behalf of King Willem-Alexander and signed by the responsible ministers.
The signature is actually considered a matter of form, not so for migration and asylum minister Marjolein Faber. The suspended politician, who sits in the cabinet for Geert Wilders' Freedom Party PVV, resisted the royal wish to distinguish five volunteer refugee helpers for their commitment.
In Parliament, she justified her decision: “I'm still behind it,” said Faber. Minister is not a stamp machine. “And if I don't want to sign something, I don't sign.” The minister's reasoning: This honor violates her idea of a stricter asylum and immigration policy.
“Minister is not the servant of Wilders”
Jesse Klaver from the opposition alliance of the Greens and Social Democrats not only addressed the minister, but also Wilders. It does not sit in the cabinet himself, but as the big winner of the last parliamentary election, but draws the strings behind the scenes.
“The minister is not the servant of Wilders, but a servant of the crown,” said Klaver. “This behavior is shameful. The unity of the cabinet has failed.” And the Prime Minister should not accept that.
Criticism also from Government parties
Not only with opposition politicians, but also within the right four coalition, the decision triggered the decision of violent outrage. Nicolien van Vroonhoven-Kok, Vice-Group Chairman of the Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC), asked Faber to never refuse a signature under an order recognition.
And Marieke Wijen-Wet from the BBB farmers' party pointed out the minister “that a royal award as recognition of many years of engagement for society must not be a political instrument”.
Prime minister Schoof was missing in parliament
In the attempt to smooth the waves, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, together with the Interior Minister, had still signed the order for the five volunteers.
The debate in parliament, however, had initially remained away from the independent Premier. According to the opposition politician Chris Stoffer (SGP), an affront: “We are very because the prime minister comes,” said Stoffer. “The fact that he is not here is an insult to the parliament.” It makes little sense to continue the debate in this constellation.
Minister of asylum is fighting for political survival
Schoof then appeared to the meeting, which was not only about the future of the Minister of Asylum, but also about the future of the government. After a series of open conflicts and interpersonal tensions, the cabinet has been in crisis mode for a long time.
Above all asylum minister Faber. With her announcement to get the strictest asylum law of all time, she has failed so far. The 64-year-old looks haphazard and seems isolated within the coalition. No question that the hardliner of the new Dutch legal government is fighting for her political survival these days. However, it remains in office at least for the time being: on Wednesday evening she survived a request for no confidence in parliament.
