VVD and PVV annoyed at Hirsch Ballin’s “whining”

25 February 2008

THE HAGUE – The right wing opposition in Parliament has rejected Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin’s suggestion to get rid of the terms "allochtoon" and "autochtoon", meaning "of foreign descent," and "of native Dutch descent", respectively.
 
The Liberal VVD says he would do better to tackle the real problems instead of "whining" about the language used.

The Freedom Party PVV thinks that the government should stop this "politically correct nonsense" and tackle the problems, which "whatever way you turn or twist them, still largely have to do with immigration and integration."

Hirsch Ballin made his comments in an interview on radio programme De Ochtenden on Monday. He is annoyed at the opposition often created by use of the terms "autochtoon" and "allochtoon".

"Perhaps we should get rid of these words entirely, since they create a false opposition," the CDA minister said.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2008]

Subject: Dutch news