Reaction to far-right coalition agreement

Dear DWARSers,

After years of normalisation by the right, the far right has finally succeeded: there will be a cabinet built on nationalist and racist hatred on the backs of the most vulnerable. There is a coalition agreement steeped in far-right thinking, which would rather use vulnerable populations as scapegoats than offer progressive solutions to the many crises facing our generation.

If there is one racist party at the table, and the other three parties at the table go along with it, then there are four racist parties at the table. The VVD, NSC and BBB look the other way for a moment purely for their own political gain when the PVV spouts the most racist crap about refugee reception. Racism is forgivable for the VVD, NSC and BBB, as long as they themselves get enough room for austerity, limiting student migration and nature-destroying nitrogen policies. Let us also remember that each of the four forming parties wanted 'grip on migration', as if refugees were the problem, rather than the years of demolition of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers and Immigration and Naturalisation Service. Using terms like 'extra-parliamentary', VVD, NSC and BBB try to pretend that they are not really in a coalition with the PVV. Nothing could be further from the truth, all four forming parties are behind this far-right coalition agreement.

The normalisation of the extreme right is not only taking place when forming the new cabinet, but also in the Lower House. Today in a debate, Chamber chairman (and PVV member) Bosma forbade the use of the term 'extreme right'. Words matter, we will always tell it like it is. In the fight against rising racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia, we need to call a spade a spade. This new cabinet will be far-right, call it that.

A quick scan of the coalition agreement shows where the priorities are for these parties. More powers for police and security services, pushing through a cut in fuel, €970 million in cuts to students, reversing minimum wage increases, fewer subsidies for renewable energy, cuts to the NPO, stricter rules around benefits, a pro-Israeli view of the genocide of Palestinians, the list goes on. Just as bad is what goes unnamed, think of the mental health service, homeless shelters, the transgender law and how the housing crisis is being resolved despite the relaxation of nitrogen rules. It is already no longer surprising that climate is almost more often mentioned when it comes to a favourable business climate than when it comes to protecting our earth.

But the most far-right drek is found in the chapter on 'Grip on asylum and migration', the title already speaking volumes. It proudly talks about 'the strictest admission regime for asylum and the most comprehensive package for grip on migration ever'. People fleeing poverty, hunger, unlivable weather conditions due to climate change, war and conflict are put down as the cause of the pressure on housing, healthcare, education, finances and social cohesion in the Netherlands. Innocent people in need are blamed by cabinet after cabinet of demolition policies. And the next cabinet adds a huge scoop. Rolling back the Spread Act, 2.5 billion euros of cuts to development cooperation, a temporary Asylum Crisis Act, an almost impossible route to apply for asylum, a stop to priority for status holders for social housing, strengthening of border control, an opt-out clasule for European asylum policy; the list goes on again. Everything is being done to make life impossible for the most vulnerable. An eye for legal feasibility and international treaties has long since been thrown out of the window. None of this is actually surprising anymore; years of normalisation by occasional liberals have ensured that. The door for the extreme right has already been left ajar in campaign time. In this coalition agreement, the door has been blown out of joint.

In these days of growing hatred, xenophobia and discrimination against everything that does not fit into the oppressive pigeonholes of the far right, it is hard to hold out hope. A world where we fight against climate change; where no one has to worry about whether they have enough money for dinner or rent; where everyone can participate despite their background, such a world seems further away today than ever. Sadness or anger, all emotions in reaction to this terrible agreement are justified.

These times call for bundling those emotions into rock-solid action. If one of the emotions prevails, let it be militancy. Fighting against racist scapegoat politics, against the extreme right and thus against this new government. Take to the streets, take action and speak out. Stand side by side, precisely with the people for whom it has become even more difficult and dangerous to fight since today.

Be combative and stick together,

Your board,

Judith, Luna, Merlin, Pepijn, Rick, Ruben, Tony and Thijme