New Dutch coalition govt proposes its ‘strictest ever’ asylum policy

New Dutch coalition govt proposes its ‘strictest ever’ asylum policy

The new policy includes an opt-out from EU rules 'as soon as possible'.

Former education and interior minister Ronald Plasterk has emerged as the leading candidate for the Netherlands’ new coalition government. (AFP pic)
THE HAGUE:
The newly agreed Dutch coalition government on Thursday proposed the “strictest ever” asylum policy, including an opt-out from European Union rules, and vowed to examine moving its Israel embassy to Jerusalem.

The 26-page coalition agreement emerged early on Thursday after six months of gruelling talks between four parties following the stunning election victory of far-right leader Geert Wilders.

“Concrete steps will be taken towards the strictest ever entry rules for asylum and the most comprehensive ever package to control migration,” the agreement said.

The parties said they would file a request to the European Commission for an opt-out of European asylum policy “as soon as possible.”

People without a valid residence permit will be deported “by force if necessary,” said the report.

On foreign policy, the parties committed to keep the Netherlands as a “constructive partner” in the European Union and support Ukraine “politically, militarily, financially, and morally.”

More controversially, the agreement calls to examine the idea of moving the Dutch embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians, but most governments avoid putting embassies there to avoid prejudging the outcome of negotiations for a lasting peace.

“Taking into account solutions to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and diplomatic interests, we will examine when the embassy can be moved to Jerusalem at an appropriate time,” said the report.

The parties have still not agreed on who will be prime minister of the European Union’s fifth-largest economy.

They appointed civil servant Richard van Zwol as the so-called “formateur” who will oversee the formation of a cabinet, but he is not the intended PM candidate.

The main contender looks to be former education and interior minister Ronald Plasterk, who also played a key role in overseeing the initial talks.

In March, the four parties agreed to aim for a partially technocratic cabinet made up of 50% politicians and 50% from outside politics.

Wilders himself has already reluctantly agreed to give up his dream of becoming prime minister amid widespread unease over his anti-Islam, anti-European views.

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