Green Left and Democrats D66 have voiced agreement with the criticisms of government cuts made in a report from the Social and Cultural Planning Office published today.

The planning office accuses the government of only looking at the economic aspects of the cuts and ignoring the social effects.

“The SCP’s criticism of the cabinet cuts has substance.” Green Left leader Jolande Sap says. “Research by Green Left already showed that cuts in child care allowances meant that many parents would either work less or stop altogether. The Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis has called on the government to make structural reforms rather than short-sighted cuts. It would be good if the cabinet listened to its own advisors.”

The report states that the Netherlands is at a turning point both economically and socially. Prospects for the coming year are gloomy and the cuts will affect just about everyone.

D66 MP Wouter Koolmees agrees with the SCP’s criticisms. “Government finances have to be put back in order. But D66 would rather do that through economic reforms like raising the pension age than through cuts that hit a small group unnecessarily hard.”

The SCP report "The Social State of the Netherlands", which predicts "dark clouds underway" in its conclusion, was released on Wednesday. The opposition has demanded a debate with Prime Minister Mark Rutte on the report.

(nc/imm)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide