1 March 2007

AMSTERDAM – During the debate today on the government policy statement, Liberal VVD faction leader Mark Rutte called on Parliament to come with "concrete legislation" to prevent dual nationality in future.

He did say he does not want to go so far as to contest the appointment of state secretaries Ahmed Aboutaleb and Nebahat Albayrak, who are both dual nationals, as Freedom party PVV leader Geert Wilders would like. Rutte said he had no doubts about the loyalty of these two politicians, but does want a decision from the Parliament about situations like this in future.

Rutte did think Albayrak should have given up her Turkish nationality. But Wilders says it has nothing to do with whether the state secretaries are well integrated or not. He does not want a situation of "dual rights and dual obligations," or any appearance of a conflict of interests.

Wilders says Rutte "is not worth a button" if he takes no action in the event that Albayrak fails to give up her Turkish nationality after his comments.

Green Left GroenLinks and Democrats D66 said they saw no sense in Rutte's argument. "Very un-liberal," said GroenLinks leader Femke Halsema. D66 leader Alexander Pechtold said it was an "idiotic call" on Parliament.

The two challenged Rutte to address his comments to everyone with dual nationality, including those within the VVD, if these were his sentiments, rather than focus only on Albayrak. Rutte defended himself by saying that as far as he was concerned no one should be allowed to hold dual nationality, but that he was bringing up this issue now because of Albayrak's taking office in a position that will hold responsibility for immigration policy.

PvdA faction leader Jacques Tichelaar stressed that origin and faith were irrelevant to his party. "For us there is only one kind of Dutch person," Tichelaar said. He said he was proud of Aboutaleb and Albayrak and had no doubts whatsoever about their loyalty. Tichelaar wondered aloud whether others were perhaps using the discussion on dual nationality simply to make it clear that they did not want any Muslims in the government.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2007]

Subject: Dutch news