Almost all the papers feature pictures of a quite lonely-looking minister in parliament. In an editorial, entitled "Lame duck Verdonk", NRC Handelsblad writes that "by ordering Verdonk to carry out a new investigation into Hirsi Ali's naturalisation, but this time in a thorough and meticulous way, the parliament delivered a major political blow to the minister. The two motions, adopted by a large majority, effectively make the minister a ward of parliament.
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The two motions, adopted by a large majority, effectively make the minister a ward of parliament. |
When the debate finally came to an end at three o'clock in the morning, the leader of the Christian Democratic faction asked her whether she would implement the motions, and all she could say was 'yes'. Even though there was crisis in the air the entire evening, the prime minister was conspicuously absent. Earlier in the day, the Deputy Prime Minister Gerrit Zalm had also distanced himself from his fellow party member."
More scathing criticism
"The ruins left behind by the Lovely Rita", is a headline in Trouw. "The popular minister and candidate for the leadership of the centre-right VVD party has become a solitary politician and a danger for the cabinet following the debate," writes the paper. "She wants to be clear and decisive, but she lacks self-control and political savvy".
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"She wants to be clear and decisive, but she lacks self-control and political savvy". |
"In the past three years, she has acted like a bumper car at a fair. She smashes into other bumper cars, staggers backwards for a few moments and then heads off in a slightly different direction for another crash. She shakes up Holland's immigration policy, the integration debate, the cabinet and her own VVD party. She speeds along, leaving smouldering ashes in her wake. But now it seems that the limits of Verdonk's political actions are appearing on the horizon," concludes the paper.
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"In the past three years, she has acted like a bumper car at a fair. She smashes into other bumper cars, staggers backwards for a few moments and then heads off in a slightly different direction for another crash." |
Verdonk’s future
Well, that remains to be seen. De Telegraaf points out that many of the leading members of her party have withdrawn their support for the minister in her battle to become the new party leader. "Even Verdonk's fans are disappointed with her behaviour during the debate", headlines de Volkskrant. But in another article, the paper writes that people who are condemned by politicians and the media can sometimes still maintain support among the general public. Just look at Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky affair, explains de Volkskrant. "Rita Verdonk is a classic Dutch example of this. She's been derided for three years now, yet she remains popular."
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"Rita Verdonk - she's been derided for three years now, yet she remains popular." |
Film and sports
Yes, all the papers carry pictures of the premiere of the Da Vinci Code at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday. Many critics have criticised the movie, notes NRC Handelsblad. The papers also feature photos of Barcelona's victory in the Champions League final yesterday.
De Telegraaf notes on its front page that the Dutch justice ministry is looking into the role the gambling mafia plays in soccer and whether they might be influencing the outcome of games. Apparently, some players are spending far more than they earn, paying cash, for instance, to buy expensive houses. According to insiders, this all points to fraud and justice officials are determined to root out the practice.
Bureaucratic loose cannon
You're going to find this story hard to believe. A 63-year-old Dutchman who put out a fire was fined for entering dunes that were closed off to the public. The man saw four young people setting fire to a beach café. Because of strong winds, the blaze could have spread to the dunes. The man managed to put out the fire, but he was fined 50 euros.
Both the man and the café owner are incensed and are demanding that the fine be withdrawn. But, the municipality can't do that. De Telegraaf quotes a spokesperson who says, "we can fine people, but the only person who can reverse such decisions is the public prosecutor." It kind of makes you wonder whether Rita Verdonk is Holland's only loose cannon.
Tags: Barcelona, Cannes, Da Vinci, debate, dunes, fine, Hirsi Ali, parliament, Verdonk, VVD