Prime minister Mark Rutte will answer MPs questions about the government’s 2017 spending plans during the second day of debate on the budget on Thursday.

However, broadcaster NOS reports there were only seven questions fired at the prime minister during the first day of debate on Wednesday. Unlike in previous years, MPs concentrated on attacking the government’s policies, rather than demanding more money for new policies.

The two-debate is being seen by commentators as the start of the 2017 election campaign. The Netherlands will elect a new government in March.

On Wednesday Socialist party leader Emile Roemer came under fire for not having the financial backing for his party’s plans to make healthcare cheaper.

And VVD parliamentary leader Halbe Zijlstra and CDA chief Sybrand Buma clashed over freedom of speech. Zijlstra said the definition should be as wide as possible while Buma said boundaries are necessary to ensure standards are kept.

PVV leader Geert Wilders used his allotted speaking time to call for an end to Islam in the Netherlands, which he said would liberate the country.