Mark Rutte wins the title of best debater in spite of slip-up, but disagrees with changing the queen's role in government. An English Defence League demonstration is banished to the outskirts of Amsterdam. Postal workers threaten strike action. And finally, a sex scandal for the Dutch would-be gutter press: Naughty 'Barney' is blackmailed with non-existent sex tapes.
 
Good debate for Mark Rutte, except for dual passport slip up
Overall, Mark Rutte received praise for his performance during his first debate as prime minister. He was open and plain-speaking. He even won the Socrates prize as best debater in parliament yesterday from the Dutch Debating Institute, reports AD. De Volkskrant informs us that D66 leader Alexander Pechtold described his style as "clear, enthusiastic and passionate". Socialist Party leader Emile Roemer said, "How can such a nice man be willing to defend such hard policies."

Unfortunately he did slip up on the matter of dual nationality. The prime minister appeared to get into a tangle when he tried to explain why it was fine for the holder of a Dutch-Swedish passport to become a minister, after he had criticised the holder of a Dutch-Turkish passport in the previous government. His comment that dual Dutch-Turkish nationality would lead to a discussion was met with moaning from the opposition. When he quickly tried to explain this would not exclude someone from office, it only made it look like he was changing his mind. 
 
Changing role for Queen Beatrix
Queen Beatrix's role as head of government could be limited during the formation of a new government after the next election. A growing number of MPs wants the head of state to fulfil only a ceremonial role, writes de Volkskrant. At present the queen appoints mediators to supervise the formation of the new government, in the future this role could be fulfilled by parliament.

During yesterday's debate, Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders called for the queen to be removed from government - a proposal that would need a two-thirds majority to change the constitution. Green Left, Democrats D66 and the Socialist Party agreed, but the four parties only make up a large minority. The Labour Party, however, which used to be in favour of a republic, is holding back. As long as the royal family does good, it sees no reason for change. Prime Minister Rutte also opposes changing the queen's role.

Mr Wilders said he regretted not supporting a proposal by Green Left and D66 to put parliament in charge of the formation process. That would make the process more transparent. The two parties promptly decided to submit the initiative a second time. The Labour Party supports the Green Left/D66 initiative, which only needs a simple majority to become reality.

Green Left MP Ineke van Gent told the paper up to now her quest to challenge the monarchy had been "a lonely adventure" but a series of financial scandals has damaged public support for the royals in recent years.

Demonstrators banished to outskirts of Amsterdam
According to Trouw, the English Defence League, which plans to demonstrate in support of Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders in Amsterdam this weekend, is a strange mix of British anti-Islamic activists. The movement contains disillusioned supporters of extreme right-wing supporters of the British National Party, banned members of neo-Nazi organisations, gay rights activists and a small group of Christians and Jews. In short, angry white men aged between 16 and 40 years of age.

The EDL has quickly gained notoriety. Members shout racist and anti-Muslim slogans during regular demonstrations in city centres across Great Britain. More often than not the rallies end up in violence.

The movement reportedly formed last year in response to demonstrations by Muslim extremists. It now has 200-300 groups in Great Britain and is looking to forge ties with sister organisations in Europe and with the anti-Islamic movement within the US Tea Party.

Saturday's demonstration has been banished to the outskirts of Amsterdam, for fear that EDL protesters plan to seek confrontation with the police and anti-fascist demonstrators. Its self-appointed leader, alleged football hooligan Tommy Robinson, is quoted in an interview with the BBC referring to Muslim extremists: "Hate is a disease which is spreading across our country and we have to stop it." Hmm, looks like a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

A postman's lot is not a happy one
Dutch postal workers are threatening strikes in November, writes nrc.next. The unions have given postal company TNT a clear ultimatum to change course. The company plans to sack full-time postmen and women up and down the country in favour of taking on cheaper part-time staff. To the unions it is a matter of principle. Thousands of people, some of whom have delivered post for up to 30 years, could suddenly find themselves out of a job. At first the company wanted to get rid of 11,000 jobs. After three years of negotiations, it offered to put only 1,000 workers on the streets if staff accepted pay cuts. Once that was rejected, TNT decided it would go ahead with plans to sack 3,100 people.

The unions think the reorganisation could be spread out over a longer period, although they realise they will not be able to save everyone's job. Meanwhile tension on the workfloor is rising and there have already been two wildcat strikes. It looks like the company's slogan "Sure we can" might have to be adjusted to "Maybe we can't".

Sex scandal makes it into Dutch gutter press
Sex scandals seldom make it into the Dutch papers. However, details of an extramarital affair by former darts world champion Raymond van Barneveld are splashed across the pages of mass-circulation daily De Telegraaf and popular daily AD.

In 2006, Barney, as he is affectionately known to his fans, had an affair with a barmaid. De Telegraaf writes that the one-night stand turned into a drama for Van Barneveld's family. The barmaid boasted to her next boyfriend that she had spent the night with the famous dart champion. He allegedly tried to blackmail Barney, saying videos had been made and he would put them on the internet unless he was paid 10,000 euros. Van Barneveld decided to confess everything to his wife and press charges.

The sex tapes were never found - they probably never existed. The blackmailer faces a possible two-year sentence.