Read my lips: There will be no leaks.. or maybe just a few nice ones
No, no definitely not. As long as negotiations are ongoing there is no question that anything in the new coalition accord is going to be leaked to the press. In today’s Volkskrant Douwe Douwes and Kim van Keken think politicians protest too much
There have been plenty of leaks, of course. But they have been nice ones, little pats on the back for the hardworking citizen (HC).
Once Rutte takes over, the speed limit will go up to 130 an hour, there will be lots more asphalt, pots more money for care for the elderly and we can light up once again in our local around the corner. The HCs in Staphorst will continue to enjoy their Sunday rest, the Christian press rejoiced. It’s a small sacrifice to make and the support of the SGP might come in handy one day.
Complete radio silence, that is what Mark Rutte (VVD), Maxime Verhagen (CDA) and Geert Wilders (PVV) agreed on. They know how sensitive people can be about a 18bn cut back message. Say the wrong word and negotiations could go pop.
Titbits
Every so often however, some choice titbits managed to escape from the party spin doctors not-so-sealed lips. Nothing too painful, just nice things, things we all like, like hitting the gas and more lanes to do it on. The new coalition had two days to play Santa but they quickly ran out of presents. So the good news was leaked with festive gusto.
Today the HCs of the Netherlands will find out how much the unleaked plans are going to hurt. It won’t be pretty. Spending power will fall. On Wednesday after his party had agreed the new accord without a murmur Rutte announced that ‘rules will not only be made but enforced as well. This accord contains a large percentage of VVD, a large percentage of CDA and a large percentage of PVV.’
The painful cutbacks have been professionally hidden from the HC until today. As have done other cabinets before this. It’s the spin doctor’s golden rule: if nothing else is happening give them the good news. And keep the bad news for a busy day.
This is an unofficial translation
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