{"id":165842,"date":"2024-03-28T12:18:44","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T11:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=165842"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:15","slug":"potential-coalition-partners-block-debate-on-lower-interest-rates-for-bad-luck-generation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/03\/28\/potential-coalition-partners-block-debate-on-lower-interest-rates-for-bad-luck-generation\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential coalition partners block debate on lower interest rates for \u2018bad luck generation\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

How about those lower interest rates for students who missed out on the basic student grant? The parties that might form a new cabinet are still unwilling to discuss the matter, as became clear in the House of Representatives yesterday.<\/p>\n

\"\"

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMigle Alonderyte<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Just before the last general election, the House of Representatives made a decision to reduce the tax benefit for expats. The proceeds were to be used to lower interest rates for students who missed out on the basic student grant.<\/p>\n

But how do you actually reduce student loan interest rates? Outgoing Minister of Education Robbert Dijkgraaf sent a letter to the House outlining three options<\/a>: an interest discount, an interest rate cap or an annual compensation. Take your pick, was his message.<\/p>\n

Since then, the proposed reduction of the tax break for expats has become a contentious issue<\/a>, as tech companies are threatening to leave the Netherlands. But if the decision were to be reversed, it remains unclear how the next government would compensate the so-called \u2018bad luck generation\u2019 of students.<\/p>\n

Promise<\/h2>

On Tuesday, D66 MP Jan Paternotte tried to put the issue on the House agenda. \u201cTime is running out. Next year, we might not be able to give the students of the bad luck generation what they were promised\u201d, he said. \u201cThis is why we would like to have a debate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The minister didn\u2019t even need to be present, he added, \u2018because it\u2019s really up to the House now anyway, and perhaps more specifically to the potential coalition partners. In any case, I think it would be good to have this debate soon\u2019.<\/p>\n

D66\u2019s request received widespread support, but not from the potential coalition partners, PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB. Although PVV MP Reinder Blaauw called it an important proposal, he wanted \u2018a letter first and then a committee debate\u2019.<\/p>\n

VVD and BBB agreed. NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt also wanted to see a letter first (\u2018within two weeks\u2019) and took a swipe at the parties responsible for introducing the student loan system: \u201cI find it very interesting that all the parties that gave us the loan system are now in such a hurry to arrange compensation. I applaud that.\u201d The system was greenlighted by VVD, D66, PvdA and GroenLinks.<\/p>\n

Letter about what?<\/h2>

Paternotte didn\u2019t understand the potential coalition partners\u2019 reservations, noting that there was already a letter outlining the available options. \u201cI really find it incredibly peculiar that a letter is being requested. I think the education minister has no idea what this letter would even be about.\u201d<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s where the discussion ended, to Paternotte\u2019s surprise. His attempt to prod Speaker Martin Bosma \u2013 \u201cDo you know?\u201d \u2013 remained fruitless.<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t