Prime Minister Schoof: Cabinet was not offside at Spring Memorandum

Prime Minister Dick Schoof denied on Thursday during his weekly press conference that the coalition outside the cabinet made agreements about the Spring Memorandum. It was « not signing at the famous cross » for the cabinet, said Schoof on media questions.

Various ministers were critical after the spring agreement about the state of affairs. Minister of Education Eppo Bruins (NSC), for example, wondered for the Council of Ministers on Thursday whether « all the consequences » of the current Spring Memorandum are « lived through and forward ».

State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie (Justice, PVV) was disappointed that there will be no extra money to resolve the cell deficiency. « As I see him now, I don’t see how this is possible, » she said. Minister Eddy van Hijum of Social Affairs and Employment (NSC) threatened with resignation during the last negotiating night, if there were no mitigating measures for cutbacks on unemployment benefits.

Figures announced on Friday

Schoof said that the discussions about the Spring Memorandum have been running since January, that there have been conversations between Minister Eelco Heinen of Finance (VVD) and professional ministers, and that in the end a number of ‘political questions’ were also open. It was the four Coalition parties PVV, NSC, VVD and BBB who brought out on Wednesday after more than a day of negotiations that there was an agreement.

No extra money for the cell shortage was one of the choices during the negotiations, Schoof explained. « That can mean that ministers and state secretaries do not get what they would like to have. » And so more financial choices have been made, Schoof said: « That does not mean that every minister is immediately jubilating with every subject. »

All in all, a « balanced package » herself spoke with which he was « ultimately satisfied ». The underlying pieces of the Spring Memorandum only only come out on Good Friday, the Council of Ministers decided on Thursday because they are still being adjusted. « All figures will be published tomorrow, » said Schoof.

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