Thread: Dutch government collapses in the wake of immigration row...

Folks, Is this in our future? Why can't our leaders understand the problems associated with illegal immigration? Rhetorical question.


http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=954182006

Dutch government collapses in the wake of immigration row over MP
Marathon debate forces U-turn by hardline minister and resignation

TOBY STERLING

THE Dutch prime minister will tender his government's resignation today, after a bitter row over immigration saw his coalition collapse.

Jan Peter Balkenende told parliament in The Hague yesterday that his three-year-old government had come to an end and that he would tender his resignation to Queen Beatrix today.

Mr Balkenende's announcement - which will likely trigger early elections - capped 36 hours of political drama centering on Rita Verdonk, the immigration minister, and her ill-fated failed attempt to strip a Somali-born MP, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, of Dutch citizenship. "It's unfortunate that it came to this, but we know that's the way things go in politics," Mr Balkenende told reporters.

Ms Hirsi Ali, 36, rose to international prominence after writing the script for a film criticising the treatment of women under Islam - a film that prompted a young Muslim fanatic to murder the film-maker Theo van Gogh in 2004.

In May, Ms Verdonk threatened to strip Ms Hirsi Ali of her citizenship for applying under a false name when she arrived in the country in 1992. Ms Hirsi Ali resigned, but after an international outcry parliament ordered Ms Verdonk to reconsider her decision.

This week, she said that Ms Hirsi Ali could retain her citizenship after all, prompting a debate that carried on until 5:30am yesterday.

Ms Verdonk survived a no-confidence vote, but the parliamentary faction of the smallest member of Mr Balkenende's conservative coalition, the centrist D-66 party, said the minister had lost all credibility and it would not support any cabinet that included her. The party's three ministers resigned, and Mr Balkenende said that meant the rest had to follow.

"That includes me as prime minister," Mr Balkenende told the legislature.

Elections will probably take place within several months, rather than next May as scheduled. Mr Balkenende must consult with Queen Beatrix before deciding, and he didn't rule out governing with a new minority cabinet until next year's budget is presented in September.

It is the second time Mr Balkenende resigned prematurely. He was first elected in 2002, but quit three months later when his inexperienced coalition fell apart.

It won again in 2003, on a crime- busting, anti-immigration platform.

Ms Verdonk has been the most polarising figure in Balkenende's cabinet, carrying out policies including forced citizenship classes for immigrants, jailing asylum seekers and deporting illegal immigrants. Immigration to the Netherlands has halved since 2000.

On Tuesday, Ms Verdonk reluctantly reversed her earlier decision to revoke Ms Hirsi Ali's passport, but the latter was forced to sign a statement acknowledging that she had "misled" Ms Verdonk by saying she had lied - essentially accepting blame for the whole affair.

"I think the minister really has acted in a shameful manner," said Wouter Bos, the leader of the opposition Labour Party.

Ms Hirsi Ali, who went into hiding for months following Mr van Gogh's murder, said she accepted the blame because she wanted to keep her passport, put the affair behind her and get on with her life. She spoke to reporters in the United States, where she is house-hunting after taking a job with the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington think-tank.

This article: http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=954182006

Last updated: 30-Jun-06 01:00 BST

Ms Hirsi Ali, who went into hiding for months following Mr van Gogh's murder, said she accepted the blame because she wanted to keep her passport, put the affair behind her and get on with her life. She spoke to reporters in the United States, where she is house-hunting after taking a job with the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington think-tank.


Why is she coming here????

moosetracks questioned

Why is she coming here????

She spoke to reporters in the United States, where she is house-hunting after taking a job with the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington think-tank.

That's what I wondered?!

Does anyone know anything about the American Enterprise Institute?

OK, did a quick search. This is from their site.


http://www.aei.org/about/filter.all/default.asp

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I remember seeing this on 60 Minutes or one of those other news programs. That woman has been hunted like an animal -- I sure do give her credit for standing up for those women. But that had to be scary.

Looks like we're not the only ones with immigration issues. C'mon curiouspat, you want a politician to think??????? Our politicians are too smart to learn from other people's mistakes -- just ask them!!!!!!

Hi CheyenneWoman,



I'm sorry! There I go, trying to be logical again

When will I ever learn

Thanks for reminding me