Senators in the Dutch Upper House are refusing to rush through legislation making it possible for the government to charge citizens for ID cards.

There has always been a charge for the provision of the cards but, at the beginning of September, the Supreme Court ruled that the cards should in fact be issued free. There was then a rush on the cards, with people applying for them en masse.

Interior Minister Piet Hein Donner has drawn up legislation to allow for a charge to be made for the ID cards.

Too quickly
Mr Donner wanted the Upper House to rush the legislation through, but senators are refusing to be pushed into a decision. They say that he is going too quickly and should give proper consideration to a ruling from the Supreme Court.

The minority government relies on the support of the small rightwing religious SGP party to give it a slim majority in the Upper House. However, the SGP also says the minister should take time to evaluate the Supreme Court’s ruling.

During a debate in the Lower House, MPs said they want legal advice on the matter because they are concerned that the law will not stand up in court. A majority of MPs agree that citizens should pay for the card, but they are not convinced that people who have been issued cards without payment should be charged after all.

45 euros
Local authorities can set their own charge rate for the cards, which is usually around 45 euros for a card vlid for five years.

(mw/imm/nc)

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