Dutch Queen Maxima waves hands in the Glass Coach as she arrives at the palace Noordeinde in The Hague, the Netherlands, Sept. 19, 2017. The traditional opening of the parliamentary year in the Netherlands was in some way business as usual on Tuesday in The Hague, but also different because Dutch King Willem-Alexander issued a message from an outgoing government. (Xinhua/Rick Nederstigt)
THE HAGUE, Sep. 19 (Xinhua) -- The traditional opening of the parliamentary year in the Netherlands was in some way business as usual on Tuesday in The Hague, but also different because Dutch King Willem-Alexander issued a message from an outgoing government.
The main message of the King was that more people should profit from economic prosperity in the country. "After a number of difficult years we are again seeing a flourishing economy and healthy public finances," he said. "But not everyone is feeling the impact of this economic growth sufficiently in their daily lives. It is important that more people profit from this prosperity."
"Prinsjesdag", Prince's Day, held every year in The Hague on the third Tuesday of September, is a day of many traditions. As every year the cabinet presented its plans and ideas for next year through the Speech from the Throne by the King. This year was not different, although the plans and ideas came from an outgoing government.
"The current government must exercise restraint as regards submitting new proposals," the King said. "But that does not relieve it of its duty to do what is in the country's interest."
The end of the coalition government formation between rightist liberal party VVD, Christian Democrats CDA, center-leftist Democrats D66 and the small Christian party ChristenUnie is in sight, but there is still no new government.
It is already the 188th formation day since the elections on March 15, which means it is likely that this formation will break the longest formation record after World War II, which is the government formation of 208 days in 1977.
The King's message thus came from VVD and PvdA's (Labor) outgoing cabinet. This outgoing government is still governing and treating current affairs, but does not make new plans for which additional money is needed. That is the task of a new cabinet.
The VVD in this case has a double role. The party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte had to make a budget for next year with the PvdA, while also taking into account the wishes of future partners CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie.
The reason why Prinsjesdag also continued without a government is simple. The Constitution demands it.
According to tradition King Willem-Alexander travelled from Noordeinde Palace in The Hague to the house of parliament with his wife Queen Maxima, like last year carried in the Glass Coach, because the Golden Coach is being renovated.
With thousands of spectators watching the event also was a potential terrorist target. This Prince's Day was the best-protected edition ever. Visible and invisible measures were taken to protect spectators, the royals and politicians against terror. For instance, the police placed special heavy robust blocks and extra fences. The municipality of The Hague had also asked visitors not to bring big bags to the event.
With female politicians according to tradition trying to outdo each other with extravagant hats and male MPs wearing their most formal dress, "Prinsjesdag" remained a festive day. However, as always the message of the King was serious.
Following the procession in the Glass Coach the King read aloud the Speech, written jointly by the ministers and secretaries of state, in a joint session of the Dutch senate and house of representatives in the "Ridderzaal", or Hall of Knights.
The King started his Speech with a message on the devastation caused by hurricane Irma on the Caribbean islands of Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The King visited the disaster area last week.
Turning to the economic circumstances in the Netherlands, the King said that the country is in far better shape than when the current outgoing government took office in 2012.
"After years of adversity, the economy has been growing since 2014," he said. "At the beginning of the government's term it was still shrinking, recording a 1 percent contraction. This year and next, a forecast of 3.3 percent and 2.5 percent respectively is expected."
According to the King, "the greatest threat for the country stems from terrorist attacks in the countries around us". He announced that extra money will be set aside for security and counterterrorism.
"The intelligence services will be enabled to recruit more personnel," the King stated. "The Royal Military and Border Police will receive funding to strengthen border control, including at Schiphol Airport. In order to deal better with the increasing risks and threats in the digital world, extra money will be made available to tackle cyber-espionage, cyber-sabotage and cybercrime."
After his last words the people in the hall traditionally shouted "Long live the King" and the King and the Queen boarded the Glass Coach again to move to the Palace for the traditional balcony scene.
Outgoing Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem moved to the House of Representatives to present an overview of the costs of the plans. He did that after opening a ceremonial briefcase, with the "Miljoenennota", the national budget plan.
The traditional parliamentary debate on the government plans was cancelled. This debate will only occur after the establishment of a new government, probably soon.
