The government’s 2009 spending plans were approved by MPs on Thursday night after two days of debate. A motion of no confidence in the government from anti-immigration MP Geert Wilders failed to win any support outside his own PVV party.

Analysts said the debate was notable for the tougher tone adopted against Wilders by other MPs.
Alexander Pechtold, leader of the liberal democrats D66, described Wilders as an extremist and accused him of racism, reports the Trouw.
And Mark Rutte, head of the right-wing Liberal party which has sided with the PVV on some occasions, said he has no desire to respond to Wilders’ ‘worn out record’.
More cash
Meanwhile ministers agreed to give a little more cash to pay for concierges in schools in deprived areas and extend the student rail card system to cover mbo colleges, in line with the wishes of the coalition parties.
These projects will be partly paid for by cutting the number of external advisors brought in by the government and by boosting income from state shareholdings, NOS tv reported.