Nearly four months after the parliamentary elections, it is now possible to roughly predict how the Netherlands will be governed in the future. Therefore, the expected cooperation between some right-wing and center-right parties is likely to occur. But not in the form of a “normal” government that relies on a majority of its representatives in Parliament and draws up a detailed coalition agreement. Instead, it seems that the parties want to agree on a democratic experiment, represented by the formation of a so-called additional government or outside parliament. Its features are still very blurry. But one thing is certain: right-wing politician Geert Wilders will not lead the government. The clear winner of the November election He announced on Wednesday evening via SMS X that he is no longer seeking the position of Prime Minister. Wilders wrote that he could only have become prime minister if all parties in the coalition supported him. This was not the case.
Explorer Kim Potters announced Tuesday evening that the „next step” can now be taken. He had previously spoken for two days on a country farm near Hilversum with Wilders of the right-wing nationalist Freedom Party critical of Islam, as well as with Caroline van der Plas (Citizen Farmer Movement) and Dylan Jeschlgosz of the right-wing Liberal Freedom Party and the right-wing Freedom and Democracy Party. Centrist Peter Omtzgut (New Social Contract, National Security Council). They did not comment after that or commented vaguely. Potters also referred to the report he will submit on Thursday. However, the media viewed his statement as a „breakthrough” after weeks of negotiations that made little progress.
Potters, a social democrat, was expressly commissioned by Parliament to find the „shape” that future government might take. The reason was that both Umtsigt and Yesilgöz refused to support a majority government led by Wilders. Both had initially considered tolerating a minority government, but then made clear that they preferred a non-parliamentary form.
Their motives differ: Yesilgoz cites the fact that the People's Party for Democracy, in power since 2010, was clearly voted out of office in November. Umtsigt cites serious fundamental differences with Wilders, especially regarding his position on the rule of law. Meanwhile, long before the elections, he called for the formation of an extra-parliamentary government for fundamental reasons. In his view, the usual majority governments, including hundreds of pages of agreements, made the control of the executive and parliament a mere acquiescence.
There is strong debate in the media and among experts about the true meaning of the phrase “out of parliament”. There is often talk of merely “loose agreements,” and a “looseer bond” between Parliament and government than usual; Some ministers come from outside Parliament. The leaders of the parties concerned will not join the government, but will remain members of parliament – and this is precisely what the current negotiators, including Wilders, are now said to have agreed to.
According to general opinion, only a few historical examples can be drawn, such as various tanks from the interwar period. At most, the government of Social Democrat Joop Den Oyl (1973 to 1977) could serve as a model; Its leftist coalition also brought ministers from other parties into the government, without a formal agreement between the factions. However, unlike the major parties of today, Uyl did not have a majority in Parliament. The result was that voting majorities changed, as would be expected now: sometimes the parties presenting ministers came together, and sometimes other groups arose for programmatic reasons.
Observers wonder how such a government can rule with any stability and energy in light of social polarization and a crisis-ridden foreign policy situation. As an example, they cite the “nitrogen crisis,” that is, the fact that the Netherlands chronically violates EU nature conservation rules due to excessive livestock farming. There is no way to solve the problem that has been repeatedly suppressed by the current government, otherwise those in power will find themselves in a serious conflict with their own jurisdiction. On the other hand, Wilders denies the problem exists. There are also expected to be deep differences regarding EU policy, especially regarding military aid to Ukraine. The question of which prime minister a radical politician like Wilders can reconcile with will be equally interesting.
Following Potters' report, Parliament will decide the next step next week. In the next round of negotiations, perhaps under the supervision of a new mediator, the first substantive points will be on the table.
In an interview, Reinhold Messner, 79, settled scores with his sons. Now the son of the mountaineering star is coming forward – and revealing new details.
Updated as of July 25, 2024 at 2:45 PM: Reinhold Messner caused a stir in an interview last weekend. The mountaineering legend described, among other things, the early inheritance of his sons as “one of my biggest mistakes”. The 79-year-old revealed that “the question of who got more was the main focus”. But now son Simon responds: “It’s unfortunate and sad.” Bavaria Radio His father’s accusations.
He himself greatly values the inheritance he received from his father: two mountain farms in Vinschgau in South Tyrol, and he always passed this on to his father. „That’s why I fundamentally don’t understand this accusation,” says Simon Messner. He sees no similarity between the inheritance and the break in the family, which happened gradually and had other causes, says Simon Messner. Father Reinhold did not want to comment further on this topic.
After inheritance dispute: Mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner 'on the brink’
First report dated July 21, 2024: Bolzano – Mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner turns 80 in September. But things don’t always go well for Messner, especially in his old age – he recently drew attention to himself with a thoughtful Instagram post in which he wrote: “I’m coming to the end.” Now the 79-year-old is talking about the circumstances in his family. In an interview with Pharmacy Journal Miser gives insight into his relationship with his children, which was strained by his decision to leave the majority of his assets to them in his will before his death.
Reinhold Messner talks about the biggest mistake of his life – the 79-year-old was 'on the edge of the abyss’
“One of my biggest mistakes was leaving them the majority of my assets in my will before I died,” Meisner says of his children. “They don’t understand that everything was a gift and don’t appreciate my generosity.” This is very disappointing to him, especially compared to his childhood, when there was nothing to bequeath but respect and gratitude.
Meisner explains to Pharmacy Journal “We were a big family, with many brothers and sisters, and we took care of our parents when they were old. For me, it was the opposite. The moment I distributed my material inheritance to my children and my wife, the family collapsed. The question of who got more was at the forefront and I was on the edge of the abyss when I was 75 years old.
Reinhold Messner
September 17, 1944
Brixen (South Tyrol)
Member of the European Parliament (1999-2004)
Climbing Mount Everest Without Oxygen
Asked if he would like to improve the relationship again, Meisner replies, “What parent wouldn’t want to?” He stresses that each person should find their own path rather than following in the footsteps of others: “Everyone should do it. Follow their own path, go their own way.”
’I’m Coming to the End’: Reinhold Messner’s Fans Worried
Recently, Messner caused concern among fans with his Instagram post: “I’ve reached the end, this is reality,” the mountaineering legend used the words to say. Messner’s post caused great concern among some fans.
“I leave with a clear conscience and the knowledge that I was a good person, did my best, was a loving father, a good friend, and a good brother,” Meisner continued in his post. “Now it’s time to live my last dreams and love the people who mean the most to me, but most importantly, gratitude.”
Many years after his climbing career ended, Messner remains one of the world’s most famous mountaineers. He was the first person ever to climb all eight-thousanders. However, in his native South Tyrol, a different Messner has been in the spotlight in recent months: his younger brother Hubert Messner, 71, a former pediatrician who also took part in numerous expeditions, recently became health minister for the northern Italian region.
Recently, there was also a fuss about the Guinness World Records being stripped of Reinhold Messner’s record. The mountaineer spoke of „conspiracy theories”.
’Symbolic’ Consequences – EU Moves Ministerial Meeting From Budapest to Brussels
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Hungary, led by Viktor Orban, has held the presidency of the Council of the European Union since July 1.
Source: German Press Agency/Alexander Zemlianichenko
There is still a lot of anger in Brussels about Viktor Orbán’s “peace mission”: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wants to ban Budapest from the next meeting of foreign and defence ministers. But the shot could backfire.
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DrThe European Commission is drawing further conclusions from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s unilateral actions: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that upcoming meetings of foreign and defence ministers will be held in Brussels – not in the Hungarian capital Budapest.
Borrell said after a ministerial meeting in Brussels that he had taken the decision after a majority of ministers spoke out against Hungary and wanted to impose „symbolic” consequences on the country. According to Borrell, 25 foreign ministers condemned Orban’s behaviour. The Hungarian received support only from Slovakia.
But Borrell has also been heavily criticised for his uncoordinated move to cancel the Budapest meeting. “Spain does not support a boycott in the EU,” Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said. Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel called the idea of a boycott “nonsense”. Bettel said he would rather go to Budapest and express his opinion to the Hungarians. Germany, France and the Netherlands have also voiced opposition to Borrell’s proposal.
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In Brussels, it cannot be ruled out that Borrell’s boycott campaign will ultimately backfire: several ministers are now said to be staying away from the Brussels meeting on 28-30 August in protest.
Read also
Hungary has held the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union since the beginning of July. Immediately after that visit began, Orbán made a surprise visit to Ukraine, Russia and China on a self-proclaimed “peace mission.” He also met with US presidential candidate Donald Trump. His meetings have drawn criticism from EU member states.
The European Commission had already reached its first conclusions a week ago. A Council spokesman had said that no commissioners would be sent to informal meetings of the Hungarian Council Presidency, but only senior officials. The decision was taken by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. There will also be no customary inaugural visit by the Commission to the new Council Presidency.
After Biden’s withdrawal from the US election campaign, Vice President Harris appears to be the new Democratic nominee. The Trump camp and the Republicans have already adjusted their strategy.
While US President Joe Biden is widely respected by Democrats for his decision, the reaction from Republicans seems somewhat different.
The crowd began to boo when Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, declared at a rally in Ohio: “Joe Biden is out of the race.” In his hometown of Middletown, the newly elected Vance has now thrown himself into the campaign.
That has changed dramatically for the Republican Party as a result of Biden’s withdrawal. So they are immediately adopting a new strategy and portraying the planned change of candidates as undemocratic.
Republicans make serious claims
Vance, for example, rails against the supposed Democratic elite who, in his view, were pulling the strings in the background: “Now to nominate someone else because George Soros and Barack Obama and a few elite Democrats decided behind closed doors to prioritize the Democrats.” Joe Biden is out “This is a threat to democracy. It’s not the Republican Party that fights for democracy every day.”
House Republican Leader Mike Johnson goes a step further. On CNN, he says that in some states you can’t just change the nominee. 14 million people voted for him in the primary — and Biden’s withdrawal now renders their votes invalid.
In the US states of Wisconsin, Georgia and Nevada, there are already regulations on how to conduct a candidate swap, but since Biden has not yet been formally nominated, it probably won’t help that Republicans go to court much.
The second strategy directly targets Biden’s likely successor, current Vice President Kamala Harris. Donald Trump, who is running for the White House as a Republican, has already made a pitch at a campaign event in Michigan..
Trump, who mispronounced her name, says he just calls her „Laughing Kamala.” „You can tell a lot from her amazing smile,” the 78-year-old said. „She’s crazy.”
But the attacks are not limited to the personal level: Trump and Republicans are also blaming Harris on the political level — for everything the Biden administration has done.
Just an hour after he announced he would not run for re-election, the first TV ads came out: Harris was accused of covering up Biden’s supposedly poor health.
The short ad reads: “Kamala knew Joe couldn’t do the job, so she did it.” What they achieved was an invasion of the border, soaring inflation, and the death of the American dream.
Attack Surface When It Comes to Immigration
The immigration issue in particular could make Harris vulnerable to Republicans. As vice president, President Biden has tasked her with immigration policy.
“She didn’t do her job,” Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said on Fox News. “Harris is a failure.” Abbott said Americans should reject her at the ballot box in November.
It remains unclear whether Kamala Harris will actually run as a Democrat. Republicans are certainly preparing for that.
