Many Dutch people are concerned about the situation in Ukraine and the direct consequences for the security of our country. But also about the affordability of living and their wallets. That is why it is good that we are talking about this this week as well. It has been a code red for our middle class for quite some time now. The hard work of so many people in this country receives too little appreciation.
And that is deeply unjust.
If we do not act now, it can have serious consequences.
Not only for the people this concerns but also for our society as a whole. It is not an empty phrase when we say that our society stands on the shoulders of the middle class.
Try to imagine that the middle class would be absent. You would not have had your breakfast because the bread would not have been baked. We would not know who to call in times of emergency, without police officers, firefighters, or paramedics. Half of the Netherlands would not have been able to work without SMEs providing the jobs. And so on.
It goes much deeper. It is these people who hold things together in our country. Whether it is through their work in the police, in hospitals, in government, or at the sports club on the weekend. The middle class gives a face to the liberal promise that your children will have a better life than you.
And at the moment the middle class is abandoned and people drop out, you see democracy crumble, people shift to the flanks, and thus the free way of life comes under pressure. I refuse to accept that in the Netherlands.
Therefore, the middle class deserves our support, Mr. Speaker. The strain is out.
For the lowest incomes, we have arranged allowances, tax cuts, and benefits. The highest incomes have enough resources to take care of themselves. But the middle class falls between two stools, and most parties in this Chamber think: “they will manage on their own.” This cannot continue.
Tax relief is no longer a luxury but a bitter necessity. That is why we have made a well-covered proposal for a lower energy bill and cheaper childcare.
From other parties, I mainly hear that the estimates are incorrect, and that the government can afford to take on more debt. Mr. Speaker, that is not standing up for the middle class; that is simply not daring to make choices. Because a larger government that spends more money is ultimately always paid for with the tax money of the middle class.
Mr. Speaker, my call today is therefore much more fundamental than adding one euro here and taking one euro off there. I want us to realize who builds and has built this country. And that these people need us. The VVD proposals are now on the table, I will highlight a few given the time.
How will the cabinet ensure that the government spends less money, so that the governments inflationary pressure is minimized? And will savings also be returned to the working middle class?
And what steps is the cabinet taking to keep groceries affordable? In our plans from two months ago, we advocate for removing rules that hinder supermarkets from purchasing cheaper abroad. What is the cabinet doing about this?
And how does the cabinet ensure that entrepreneurs can more easily let their employees benefit from the profits a company makes? Many entrepreneurs want this but are limited by regulations? And is the cabinet finally working on eliminating unnecessary rules?
Mr. Speaker, in the meantime, the VVD is not sitting still. We continue to make the laws we have announced.
This is not just a debate for the VVD. Standing up for the middle class touches the core of our principles. On freedom and social justice. We will continue to loudly and clearly fight for the interests of all those hard workers.
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