Dutch news in brief, 19 April 2006

New executive in Eindhoven

A coalition of the Labour Party (PvdA), Christian Democrats (CDA) and Socialist Party (SP) is to run the Dutch city of Eindhoven for the next four years. The three parties agreed the final details of an accord on Tuesday evening, local PvdA chairperson Gaby van den Biggelaar said. The new executive will consist of four aldermen, two supplied by Labour and one each from the CDA and SP.

Hundred Poles living in one building

Local officials ordered 100 Polish people from a large building in the middle of the woods in the southern Netherlands on Tuesday. The former care home for children with disabilities is deemed to be a fire hazard. The Polish people, who were living in 26 rooms in the building, were hired by a Dutch temp agency to work across the border in Germany.

Amsterdam PvdA elects new leader

The Amsterdam branch of the Labour Party (PvdA) has elected Manon van der Garde as its new leader. She replaces Lodewijk Asscher who has been appointed Alderman in charge of Finance and Economic Affairs. Eric van der Burg was appointed leader of the local branch of the Liberal Party (VVD) to replace Laetitia Griffith.

Prodi: we do want the Netherlands

New Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi told Dutch news service NOS on Tuesday that he does want the Netherlands to be part of the core decision-making group of countries within the EU. The Sunday Times caused consternation at the weekend when it reported Prodi believed the Netherlands and the UK should be excluded from the inner circle. The Italian said the journalist must have misunderstood him.

Protest at weapons fair

Several dozen activists protested outside the ‘Marelec’ weapons fair at the Kattenburg naval facility on Amsterdam on Wednesday. They claimed the intention of the underwater technology fair is to “professionalise war”. Animal rights activists took part in the demo, as they claim low-frequency signals used by navies kill dolphins and whales.

Subject: Dutch news