Prince's Day reaction

Yesterday was Budget Day and the next few days will see debates on the government's plans. The king delivered the Speech from the Throne, which focused on the coalition agreement presented last Friday. At first sight as we are used to every year. 

But this is not the case. This Budget Day was dominated by the most right-wing cabinet ever. The problems in the Netherlands, created by years of cuts in social services led by the VVD, are unfairly blamed on asylum seekers. Nature is left to its own devices, the right to demonstrate is put under pressure and the Budget Memorandum shows that even more cuts are to be made, while the very richest are already improving. 

These plans should not be normalised. The far-right cabinet that rolled out these plans should not be normalised. This cabinet is guided by scapegoat politics and short-term thinking, which has led to plans that are not only undemocratic but based on discrimination and exclusion. 

There is no 'asylum crisis' in the Netherlands. There is a solidarity crisis. We must continue to stand up against the far-right politics of populism and discrimination, where the most vulnerable groups suffer. We must continue to fight for solidarity, equality and humanity.