No consultation, fleeing in one -liners: Minister Faber is stoically sailing its own course

As a minister, Marjolein Faber would not be a party politician anymore, she promised last summer, as minister of asylum and migration on behalf of the PVV. « I want something to change, and I can only change by working together, » she said during her hearing with the House of Representatives. According to her, cooperation was not only necessary with MPs, but also « with my future colleagues within the cabinet ».

This week, the minister was, again, upside down with the Chamber and Cabinet, because she had refused To sign for the royal award of five volunteers who are committed to asylum seekers and recognized refugees for years. In her place, Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Minister Judith Uitermark (Interior, NSC) decided to sign the Royal Decree.

I think she has a very good eye for what she eventually wants

The hassle around the ribbons shows how Faber is in its ministry. « Their work is at odds with my policy, » she said about the volunteers. « I stand for strict asylum policy. » The asylum file was the main reason for the PVV, a great winner of the elections, to board the cabinet. In the outline agreement, PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB agreed that they would pursue the « strictest asylum policy ever ». The rewarding of ‘people who are participating in pampering asylum seekers’ does not fit, thinks too Party leader Geert Wilders.

Stricter asylum policy

Where does Faber want to go? « I think she has a very good eye for what she ultimately wants, » says Eduard Nazarski, former director of Vluchtelingenwerk. She must know that her policy « will certainly not help to make everything run more smoothly, » he says. According to him, Faber knows that « a large part of the population » supports her « in her desire to come up with a stricter asylum policy. »

Last year it turned out an investigation that she is one of the best known cabinet members, with a strong polarizing effect (« enthusiasm and disapproval ». It is difficult to have no opinion about her. Especially with PVV voters she can count on much appreciation. On Wednesday it was apparent from A panel test That two-thirds of the PVV voters support her choice not to draw for the ribbons.

Faber shows that « she is insufficiently realizing what the ministry involves, » says a former minister on the asylum file. Although « party politics plays a role in making policy, » but ministers who want to see their policy are being implemented must also be prepared to « listen ». The minister is the one who determines, explains the former minister, but « I wanted to hear and against all arguments. »

‘Not undisputed’

She was the second choice for the asylum ministership. Wilders had first nominated PVV MP Gidi Markuszower, but it had not been due to the safety check of the intelligence service.

She too was « not an undisputed candidate, » said VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz. NSC also had objections. After a crisis meeting with Wilders, these parties tied in last summer. With Faber, the cabinet received a clear PVV signature.

She was active for the PVV since 2011, as a member of the States in Gelderland and as a senator. She made various controversial statements in the past. For example, she called MPs ‘fake representatives’. She suggested that the Rutte cabinets operated as a ‘fifth column’. She proclaimed the radical-right conspiracy theory around surrounding. And continued to maintain that her tweet knocked over the origin of an alleged perpetrator of a stab incident, even after the victim had declared the opposite.

That was the past. With her lecture as a minister, « a new situation » arose, she said during the hearing in the Chamber. She would do it all differently, she promised. « A minister must of course behave as befits a minister, » she said solemnly. That did not work.

Controversies

In the meantime, she is considered a controversial minister, with several controversies to her name. She suggested placing return signs at the entrance of asylum seekers’ centers, after a non-existent Danish example. Had return flyers made for Syrians, with the message that they can celebrate the sugar festival in their own country. Said that Ukrainian President VolodyMyr Zensky is « not democratically chosen. » And she attacked Prime Minister openly because he did not want to put her withdrawal plans for the Spreading Act on the agenda of the Council of Ministers.

With two asylum laws, she draws her own path, deaf and blind to warnings and cries from implementing organizations such as the IND and COA, the judiciary, the Council of State, the police, the Justice and Security Inspectorate and the National Ombudsman.

Directors who are used to talking about problems about problems see that Faber often sees critical questions as personal attacks.

Photo Bart Maat

Its asylum laws, specifically the ‘asylum measurement measures’ and the bill on the introduction of a two -state system, mean a major renovation of the asylum system. Is feared for greater Work pressure at the IND and the judiciary, but also for the legal protection of asylum seekers and refugees. Nevertheless, Faber decided to give a limited number of implementing organizations only a week to respond to the laws. Subsequently, the Council of State advised her to send the laws to the Chamber only if they were adjusted and clarified on important points. Faber also completely ignored that advice.

No acquaintance yet

She seems to have a lot of confidence in the majority that the coalition has in the Lower House. That trust seems so great that until certainly at the end of last month she had not been introduced to MPs who speak about asylum, not even that of VVD and NSC. Nor did she listen to her ear at senators whose consent is of crucial importance for the passage of her laws.

After all, the coalition has no majority in the Senate, the parties are short of eight seats. The asylum minister is dependent on right -wing opposition parties such as CDA, SGP and JA21 – together good for eleven senate seats. Guidelines of these parties she hits them. « The laws are good, » she said last month during an asylum debate when she was asked if she is open to changes to her laws.

The right -wing opposition is not insensitive to the major concerns at implementing organizations and the judiciary. However, Faber dismisses it as ‘uncertainties’ that belong to major changes. She hardly gives any substantive answer to questions from MPs. « This is just how things go in every migration and asylum debate. If the question goes deeper, nothing will come. Then air will be moved, » CDA leader Henri Bontenbal sighed in the Chamber on Wednesday.

Also outside the House of Representatives it rarely becomes substantive. Local drivers still find her too little involved. There is hardly any contact. For example, when it comes to the crisis in the asylum shelter. Asking to come to Ter Apel, to see with their own eyes how things are going, she always ignored them. Only in February did she get into the car to talk to the mayors of the municipalities of Westerwolde and Groningen.

Directors who are used to talking about problems about problems see that Faber raises critical questions such as personal attacks. Just like in the Lower House, she reacts with one -liners: « There is a new wind blowing, » « the voter has spoken » and « get used to it. » Or as a commissioner summoned it earlier: « The minister needs very little to experience an administrative conversation as a political debate with opponents. »

Support

« In history, the bump from crisis to incident to crisis is, and that has constantly led to stricter asylum policy, » says Nazarski. Problems and incidents with asylum seekers from the second half of the 1980s (with the arrival of Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka) have led to social discussions again and again, and then « tightening of asylum policy ».

Nazarski thinks Faber and Wilders are aware of that dynamic. He « not experienced any minister » who was not for stricter asylum policy. But nobody was so clear on chaos and failure as Marjolein Faber, who is creating a « justification for stricter asylum policy » with its self -willingness and controversies, « he says.

Earlier this week’s ribbon affair could also have been a chance for the asylum minister to be a little more indulgent, to show to the Chamber and the Cabinet that she does want to work together. She did not apologize, nor could she promise that she would tackle it differently from now on. But she had to say something. « You know, I really do my best at the ministry, to convert the policy. And of course I make mistakes. We all make mistakes. I am only a person. But I still enjoy going to work every day. »

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