The unlikely country where Brexit-style party could win power in disaster for EU
The Netherlands is experiencing a political earthquake as the anti-establishment New Social Contract (NSC) party surges in the polls ahead of the upcoming general election, raising concerns in the European Union.
The NSC, founded by Pieter Omtzigt, a Member of Parliament and former member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA/EPP), has unveiled an election manifesto that boldly opposes further EU integration while advocating for the possibility of negotiating opt-outs from EU policies.
Omtzigt, a well-known figure in Dutch politics for his role in exposing state wrongdoing in the 2021 child benefit scandal, formed the NSC in August after a falling out with his former party.
The NSC’s manifesto declares: “We do not advocate an ‘ever closer union.’ Within Europe, we advocate for a firm position from the Netherlands, constructive but realistic, without creeping transfers of tasks, powers, and budgets that erode national sovereignty.”
The party’s position emphasises that the EU should only take action when it is more effective than actions at the national, regional, or local levels.
READ MORE: Brexit win as Badenoch strikes deal delivering £130m boost to UK economy
It seeks to protect Dutch national sovereignty and is calling for a legal mechanism that obliges the government to respect the Dutch parliament’s opinion when voting on legislative proposals at the EU level. This is in response to recent governments disregarding the views of lawmakers on certain issues, such as the renewal of glyphosate.
In cases where the NSC disagrees with EU legislative proposals, they plan to form a blocking minority with like-minded EU states to influence policy decisions. If such a blocking minority cannot be formed, the party threatens that the Netherlands will opt out and refuse to participate in any new legislative or policy initiatives.
The NSC’s stance on EU-level opt-outs is reminiscent of the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), an agrarian protest party, which recently stated its intention to opt out of the EU’s migration and nature policies in its own election program.
The NSC’s election program also opposes the EU’s transformation into a “transfer union,” rejecting joint EU borrowing and Eurobonds.
Don’t miss…
‘Brexit benefits are powering our renaissance’ – Tens of thousand new jobs[DATA]
EU blasted for ‘madness’ over TV and film tobacco ‘trigger warnings’ plans[INSIGHT]
Brexit dividend with scrapping of banker bonus cap set to ‘strengthen UK'[ANALYSIS]
The party calls for the European Central Bank (ECB) to halt its asset purchase program and “return to its original mandate.”
Additionally, the NSC advocates for maintaining the EU’s debt rules in their current form and demands a “moderate” EU budget without an increased national contribution starting in 2027.
These positions align with those of several EU member states that previously opposed proposals to increase the bloc’s long-term budget.
While emphasising the importance of national sovereignty in financial matters, the NSC recognizes that increased EU cooperation will be necessary to reduce dependencies on third countries for critical resources and create a level playing field for European companies globally.
The rise of the NSC is sending shockwaves throughout the European Union, as it poses a potential challenge to the bloc’s unity and further integration efforts.
With the upcoming Dutch general election, the EU is closely watching this upstart party’s progress, fearing the potential for a “Nexit” campaign in the Netherlands, which could echo the challenges posed by Brexit.
- Advert-free experience without interruptions.
- Rocket-fast speedy loading pages.
- Exclusive & Unlimited access to all our content.
Source: Read Full Article