Financial Times
May 24, 2011
Far-right politician Geert Wilders failed to end the Netherlands’ role in further rescue measures for Greece, as his demand “not to pay another cent” was roundly rejected in parliament.
The vote showed a solid majority of the Dutch political establishment was still prepared to back Greek debt support, despite polls suggesting that 58 per cent of voters oppose it. Only Mr Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV) and the Socialist party voted for the measure.
Greece’s announcement on Monday of tough fiscal reforms, including privatising seven state-owned groups, could make it easier for the Dutch government to justify such aid to voters.
“It is a good step in the right direction,” said Mark Harbers, the MP responsible for financial affairs in the governing Liberal party. But he added: “No one is happy helping out the Greeks. We do it because we need to, in order to save our banks, our pension funds.”
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