Timmermans presents new party vision, wants billions of investments in ‘new welfare state’

In order to keep the Netherlands ‘resilient’ in times of war threat, the next cabinet must invest dozens of billions in society through a specially established future fund. GroenLinks-PVDA leader Frans Timmermans argues for this in ‘A new chapter for the Netherlands’, a vision document in which he ignores his story for ‘a new left-wing people’s party’ and that he will present on a party meeting in Utrecht on Sunday.

In the coming weeks, the cabinet must find billions extra in the spring memorandum to increase defense spending. However, Timmermans warns that a « hard cutback policy » will only work out destabilizing. The political leader of GroenLinks-PvdA wants to invest extra in infrastructure, sustainability and innovation.

The vision piece of opposition leader Frans Timmermans comes more than two months before the members of the PvdA and GroenLinks at a party congress in June are very likely to vote for the merger of the two parties. Timmermans seizes the uncertain situation in the world and the rights of the Netherlands to reinforce his plea for a quick merger. « Putin and Trump have opened the attack on our freedom and our way of life. (…) If there was ever a time to join forces, then it is now, because we see that our ideals are getting further and further out of sight. » Timmermans finds it « time for a new breakthrough. »

Middle class

With his new story, Timmermans seems to want to meet internal critics. Within the PvdA, the Red Vooruit initiative, supported by party prominents such as Ad Melkert and Gerdi Verbeet, turned against a merger because the social-democratic values ​​of the party would be threatened by the merging with GroenLinks. In his vision document, Timmermans writes that the new party must be « a political at home with room for different rooms ». He also explicitly argues for building ‘a new welfare state’, with which he explicitly puts social and classic PvdA themes on the agenda.

The document also states that Timmermans opts more for his own story than for the attack on right -wing politicians. The GroenLinks-PvdA leader does find that right-wing politics have affected solidarity and the belief in progress in society and that « unprecedented investments » in, for example, education and homes are therefore needed. But Timmermans is also critical of the economic attitude of the left itself. He writes that GroenLinks-PvdA must again « dare to be a movement of and for the middle class » and that the left in recent years « has » had insufficient eye for most entrepreneurs who would like to be a good employer and pay their employees decently. A good existence for everyone is an illusion without a strong economy. « 

Fast trains

Reading the vision piece as a pass for the next election program of GroenLinks-PvdA, the Cabinet Schoof was quickly falling. For the next cabinet term, Timmermans wants to make investments through a future fund of 25 billion euros. That money can be used for « modern railways, fast trains, scientific research and innovation, making our industry more sustainable and the development of new high -quality activity. » According to a Timmermans spokesperson, a subsequent government must « work out the precise structure of the fund, » but the billions must be intended for « financing large projects that require a one -off investment ».

With the plea for a Future Fund, Timmermans already gives a message to right -wing parties. He turns against « a harmful austerity policy aimed at reducing our welfare state. » « We do not opt ​​for extra tanks at the expense of teachers in front of the class. Not for large -scale cuts on care for extra aircraft or soldiers. Good social services are equally important to our resilience, if not more important than a stronger defense. »

Inevitable leader

Timmermans writes about Meeregeren that he would like to see the new left party doing again next time. Timmermans does not want a shift to the left or right in terms of course. « We know very well where we are: to the left of the middle, with ideological roots in two political families; the red and green. » And the left -wing party leader is also willing to rule with the right, he writes, knowing that the polls suggest that only a middle cabinet including the VVD may give a majority. « We are a progress party, not a witness party. That means that we are willing to stick our hand to parties in the wide center, in order to pull the middle to the left. »

Timmermans is not yet expressed about sensitive issues in the merger discussion, such as the name of a new left party. It is very clear from the vision piece that he still sees himself as the inevitable leader and party leader. In a call to the members, with whom he wants to continue in conversation in the coming months, he writes: « In the coming years I want to build a new political home with you (…) consider this piece as building blocks for the foundation of that new home. »

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