The coalition parties have realised it is time they open a counter attack on Geert Wilders, rather than leaving the dirty work to the opposition. AD prints photos of the three cabinet ministers who have picked up the gauntlet.

For the Christian Union Eimert van Middelkoop called the Freedom Party leader "a transitional figure in a rearguard action". The Labour Party's Ebberhard van der Laan told the paper that "Mr Wilders is good at throwing fireworks and running away"; in other words he says things that are not true but does not wait around to defend his claims in a debate. And last but certainly not least, heavyweight Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen takes the corner for the Christian Democrats, after accusing the controversial right-wing politician of spreading division.

 
Meanwhile in de Volkskrant Rotterdam alderman Hamit Karakus warns that the negative effect of exclusion is giving even successful young people with an ethnic background the feeling they are not welcome in the Netherlands. "I can see how the message of radical Muslims is attracting a small but growing group." The Labour alderman criticises the rigidity with which the party has dealt with Mr Wilders up to now. "We have to show what Dutch society would look like under Wilders and wake up the electorate."

 
Local election in Wilders' stronghold tops Labour agenda
Next year's local elections were also at the top of people's minds at the Labour party congress in Arnhem last weekend according to Trouw. The party concluded that it had completely underestimated the importance of the European elections earlier this month. The party leaders were accused of leaving the candidates in the cold. Party leader Wouter Bos once again apologised for his remarks in a interview in which he said he didn't even vote for the number 1 candidate on the party's list. But the leadership retorted that they had been available and that the local labour groups had not called on their support.

 
Parliamentary faction leader Mariette Hamer urged members to get back on the streets and make contact with the voters. And the perfect opportunity to do so will present itself in November in Wilders' stronghold Venlo - the lion's den so to speak. There local elections are early, due to the redrawing of council borders. By then some of the other matters discussed at the congress may have borne fruit, such as a new code of honour for Labour Party officials, to clean up the general image that politicians enrich themselves using public money. Although the Dutch expenses affair is mild compared to the furore in the United Kingdom, no party can afford to lose votes over a claim for a pair of lost sunglasses "It is not just rules and regulations that apply, we are subject to our own social democratic morals."

 
Over-55s problem drinkers on the increase
The Trimbos institute has warned that the number of over-55s with a drink problem has more than doubled in the last ten years. AD reports that the figures are only the tip of the iceberg as a spokesperson for the institute says "only 5 percent of people with a drink problem come to us. There are probably around 150,000 problem drinkers." Currently attention is being focused on young drinkers, but over-55s now represent 22 percent of the people with a drink problem.

The number of women drinkers is increasing faster than men. Part of the reason that the figures for this group are so high is that the over-55s drink every day in general. Once people stop work, there is no reason not to start drinking a little earlier in the day. Drinking alcohol is generally accepted, in fact it is difficult to get away from it says an expert from Minnesota. There are even old people's homes which have a happy hour. Well at least that's something to look forward to.

 
Aggressive drivers to face stiffer sentences
According to Trouw, the Public Prosecution Office will demand longer sentences for aggressive drivers following a survey by the PPO. Accidents caused by aggressive driving will punished with 25 percent longer sentences in future. Likewise, if racism or discrimination is behind a threat or an assault, the perpetrator will see the penalty increase by a factor of 50 percent rather than the 25 percent currently added on to a sentence.

 
In general the public wants stricter sentences, but not always. For instance, many people think offenders should be let off with just a warning in some cases, but the Ministry of Justice has decided not to take on all the suggestions put forward by the public. Some respondents thought women should be allowed to carry tear gas in their bags for their own protection. However, tear gas is forbidden by the lawmakers. "We can of course drop cases, but I do not want to go down the road of tolerating weapons," says ministry chief civil servant Harm Brouwer. The Public Prosecutors will in future explain how they reached their decisions about sentencing, and publish the ministry's guidelines on the Internet. The ministry hopes the measures will increase public support for its work.

 
Crazy veg back on the menu
De Telegraaf reports that curvy cucumbers, bendy beans, sexy spuds and crazy carrots will be allowed back into European greengrocer shops as of 1 July. In an attempt to remove unnecessary legislation, the European Union has decided to scrap some of its more controversial directives. Twenty-six varieties of fruit and vegetables will no longer be subject to scrutiny when they are picked, sorted and sold to the public. Another ten varieties, including apples, pears, strawberries and tomatoes will be allowed past the aesthetics committee, but only with a special label. EU agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel says "It's a waste to throw away fruit and vegetables in a time of food scarcity just because it is oddly shaped."