Support for Dilan Yeşilgöz’s VVD leadership
◆2 sources
Dilan Yeşilgöz said she wants to remain the VVD’s lead candidate at the next election. An EenVandaag Opinion Panel survey found that only a quarter of VVD voters want her to return in that role.
Yesilgöz seeks to lead VVD into next election
5 sources
VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz said she wants to be her party’s lead candidate in the next election. She stated this after a VVD meeting in Veghel.
Tax, Benefits & Cost of Living
Dispute over funding for Box 3 tax reform
15 sources
The government plans to replace the current Box 3 system with a tax on actual returns from savings, investments and second homes from 2028. After plans that would have increased the burden on smaller savers and investors were dropped, it still has to find funding for the resulting budget shortfall. A majority in the House of Representatives asked the government to examine limiting the tax advantage of paper gifts, which can reduce inheritance tax. D66 and CDA supported that approach, while coalition partner VVD opposed it. The VVD proposed a further reduction in the Box 2 tax rate to encourage entrepreneurs to withdraw more money from their companies, but reports said this would not provide sufficient long-term funding. The coalition had not presented concrete alternatives to opposition parties by the parliamentary debate on 12 October. Prime Minister Rob Jetten said the government would continue talks with opposition parties on funding. Introducing the new system in 2028 remains uncertain: the Council of State's advice was not expected before 19 October, and the Tax Administration has said most of its available IT capacity will be needed for the reform and other tax changes in the next two years.
Dutch ministers’ designation of Russia as an enemy
14 sources
Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz said during a parliamentary debate on the defence budget that she would no longer describe Russia merely as an aggressor but as an enemy. She said Russia was testing Western societies and cited an increase in sabotage, drone attacks, intimidation and other incidents in Europe. Yeşilgöz said the Netherlands is not at war with Russia and that the wording does not change existing policy on security investment, vigilance and cooperation with European countries. The Russian embassy sought clarification over her remarks. Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen initially also called Russia an enemy after opposition pressure, but later withdrew that designation. Prime Minister Rob Jetten said Russia is one of the hostile powers facing the Netherlands and Europe, while adding that a war with Russia is not an acute risk.