Latest news with #deVolkskrant
Fox News
03-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Dutch right-wing leader Wilders' party leaves government coalition over immigration
The party of populist Dutch political leader Geert Wilders abruptly left the country's governing coalition on Tuesday over a dispute about immigration, a move that brings down the government after less than a year in office, which will now likely trigger snap elections. Wilders, who leads the Party for Freedom (PVV) and is a hardliner on immigration, was demanding 10 tougher asylum measures — including a freeze on applications and limits on family reunification — which were not agreed to by the other three coalition partners. In a stunning move, Wilders said his party was pulling out because the other three ruling parties were not willing to support his ideas on halting asylum migration. "No signature under our asylum plans… The PVV leaves the coalition," Wilders said in a post on X. Wilders, the so-called "Dutch Donald Trump," said he had informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof that all ministers from his PVV party would quit the government. Schoof has not yet reacted to the resignation. Some proposals Wilders was pushing were already part of government policy, like enhanced border controls, but he also demanded the stripping of citizenship from people with a double passport, a proposal critics said undermined fundamental rights, according to the Dutch outlet de Volkskrant. Wilders also grew frustrated with the lack of progress from his own asylum minister, Marjolein Faber, who was responsible for delaying the repeal of the scatter bill -- a law designed to distribute asylum seekers more evenly across municipalities -- and the House is still awaiting consideration of its first asylum laws, the outlet reported. Wilders viewed the scatter bill as a symbol of a failed asylum policy and a threat to Dutch identity. Last week, Wilders demanded that the army be used to guard land borders and turn away all asylum-seekers. He said at the time that if immigration policy is not toughened up, his party "is out of the Cabinet" and made good on the pledge on Tuesday. "I signed up for the toughest asylum policy and not the downfall of the Netherlands," Wilders told reporters. It was unclear what would happen next. The government could attempt to remain in power as a minority administration or call new elections for later this year. Schoof called an emergency Cabinet meeting for early afternoon. Wilders won the most recent election in November 2023 with a surprisingly wide margin of 23% of the vote, but recent polls indicate he has lost some support since joining the government. Polls put his party at around 20% of the vote now, on par roughly with the Labour/Green combination that is currently the second-largest in parliament. Dilan Yesilgöz, leader of the right-wing People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, said Wilder's move was "super-irresponsible" and said he was "shocked" by it. It comes as right-wing parties continue to surge across Europe in line with EU skepticism and growing anger over mass immigration and economic anxiety. For instance, Poland has elected Karol Nawrocki, a conservative backed by President Donald Trump, in the country's presidential runoff election, while the Czech Republic's eurosceptic opposition leader Andrej Babis, a former prime minister, leads opinion polls before an October election. Meanwhile, the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Germany has also surged to become the second-largest party in some national polls.
India Gazette
22-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
"Illegal occupiers should return their illegally occupied parts to rightful owner: EAM Jaishankar on PoK
Amsterdam [Netherlands], May 22 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday reiterated India's claim over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), stating that the region rightfully belongs to India outlining a historical context that Jammu-Kashmir joined India during the partition in 1947. During an interview with 'de Volkskrant' in Netherlands, Jaishankar said, 'As for Jammu and Kashmir, it is a historical fact that it joined India when India and Pakistan separated in 1947. Our position is that the illegal occupiers should return their illegally occupied parts to the rightful owner. And that is us.' Further he condemned terrorism, stating that 'no, for us terrorism is an independent, completely unacceptable international crime that should not be condoned or justified.' 'The terrorists targeted the vibrant tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir with their attack. So they are prepared to destroy things in Kashmir for their own, very limited, selfish purposes. They also deliberately gave the attack a very religious tint (Hindu versus Muslim, ed.). The world should not accept such practices,' he added. Jaishankar also made it clear that the Kashmir issue is a 'bilateral issue' between India and Pakistan, rejecting any offer of mediation by the international community. 'No, it is a bilateral issue between the countries involved,' Jaishankar said, emphasizing India's stance on the matter. Emphasising India's aspirations to expand its manufacturing capabilities, citing new technology as a potential entry point. 'Our hope is indeed that the manufacturing of products in India will grow and that we will be more integrated into global production chains. New technology can be an entry point. So our interests in market access cover a much broader spectrum of modern products, such as electronic hardware, chemicals or all kinds of pharmaceuticals,' said Jaishankar when asked about India's ambition to take China's place as the world's factory. On imposing sanctions on Russia, Jaishankar affirmed that 'that sanction culture is a very Western way of maintaining international relations. We do not do national sanctions.' 'India has a position that many countries in the Global South probably share. We strive for a peaceful solution to this conflict. If we can do something about it, we are open to it. But of course, this depends on the parties involved,' Jaishanakr said on India's playing a mediating role in ending the Russian war against Ukraine. Jaishankar also underlined India's aspirations for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, citing the country's growing economic and global influence. 'That permanent seat on the Security Council is indeed one of our goals. We believe that if the much-needed reform of the UN and the Security Council finally comes about, we will receive a lot of support for our claim,' he said. 'Many international initiatives have come from India in recent years. We understand what our position entails. We are now the fourth largest economy in the world, we have just overtaken Japan. And we know that comes with responsibilities. We are ready,' he added. In response to the Pahalgam attack, Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). Following the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across airbases in Pakistan. On May 10, India and Pakistan reached an understanding on the cessation of hostilities. Notably, EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany from May 19 to 24. (ANI)
India Gazette
22-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
EAM Jaishankar in Netherlands: Pakistan must face consequences if terror continues
The Hague [Netherlands], May 22 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his official visit to the Netherlands, said Pakistan must face consequences if cross-border terror attacks continue. In an interview with Dutch daily de Volkskrant, EAM Jaishankar referred to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and stated that the Pakistani military leadership holds extreme religious views. 'We want a definitive end to terrorism. Our message is therefore: yes, the ceasefire has put an end to military actions against each other for now, but if the terrorist attacks from Pakistan continue, there will be consequences. The Pakistanis must understand that very well.' EAM Jaishankar was in the Netherlands in place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who cancelled his planned state visit due to the recent military exchange between India and Pakistan. The visit focused on economic cooperation and counterterrorism, as well as preparatory discussions for PM Modi's rescheduled visit later this year. Bilateral issues discussed included Dutch arms supplies to Pakistan, which were previously raised by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi with Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans in March. When asked whether he was implying that Pakistan supports terrorism, EAM Jaishankar responded: 'I am not suggesting that, I am stating that. Suppose that there were large military centres in the middle of a city like Amsterdam where tens of thousands of people gathered for military training, would you say that your government knows nothing about that? Of course not.' 'We should not go along with the narrative that Pakistan does not know what is going on. The most notorious terrorists on the United Nations (UN) sanctions list are all in Pakistan. They operate in the big cities, in broad daylight. Their addresses are known. Their activities are known. Their mutual contacts are known. So let's not pretend that Pakistan is not involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it.' On whether terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is linked to the broader Kashmir dispute, EAM Jaishankar said: 'No, for us terrorism is an independent, completely unacceptable international crime that should not be condoned or justified.' He added: 'The terrorists targeted the vibrant tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir with their attack. So they are prepared to destroy things in Kashmir for their own, very limited, selfish purposes. They also deliberately gave the attack a very religious tint (Hindu versus Muslim, ed.). The world should not accept such practices.' On Kashmir's political status, EAM Jaishankar said: 'As for Jammu and Kashmir, it is a historical fact that it joined India when India and Pakistan separated in 1947. Our position is that the illegal occupiers should return their illegally occupied parts to the rightful owner. And that is us.' Asked whether the international community could mediate in the Kashmir dispute, EAM Jaishankar said: 'No, it is a bilateral issue between the countries involved.' When asked about mediation offers such as that from US President Donald Trump, he replied: 'As I said, this is something we will do together with Pakistan.' EAM Jaishankar also held discussions on enhancing economic and technological cooperation between India and the Netherlands. In addition to traditional sectors such as hydraulic engineering, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, EAM Jaishankar said India is focused on new areas including semiconductors and sustainable energy, particularly green hydrogen. He also sought Dutch support for accelerating negotiations on the India-European Union free trade agreement, which India hopes to conclude by the end of 2025. 'After Germany, you are India's largest trading partner within the European Union and the fourth largest investor in India worldwide,' EAM Jaishankar said. He added that he has been visiting the Netherlands for more than thirty years due to family ties. Responding to concerns about India's agricultural market protections, EAM Jaishankar said: 'Europe is also shielding its own markets, even more than we are. I am not making sweeping statements about things that are still under negotiation. But to reach a trade agreement, you have to understand the realities of each other's societies. We are a country of small farmers with small plots of land. People have at most a few cattle. We do not have a history of subsidized agriculture, like you do. If small farmers from India had to compete with large, commercial, subsidized European farmers, that would be unfair.' On India's ambition in global manufacturing, he said: 'Our hope is indeed that the manufacturing of products in India will grow and that we will be more integrated into global production chains. New technology can be an entry point. So our interests in market access cover a much broader spectrum of modern products, such as electronic hardware, chemicals or all kinds of pharmaceuticals.' Asked whether India sees itself in a global leadership role, EAM Jaishankar said: 'Certainly, but our geopolitical tradition, as a post-colonial society in Asia, is different from that of the West. We have positions and we propagate them, but we also want to respect other people's sensitivities and sovereignty. That is different from the Western tradition, in which you impose your positions on other countries.' He said India supports reform of global institutions and seeks a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. 'That permanent seat on the Security Council is indeed one of our goals. We believe that if the much-needed reform of the UN and the Security Council finally comes about, we will receive a lot of support for our claim.' 'Many international initiatives have come from India in recent years. We understand what our position entails. We are now the fourth largest economy in the world, we have just overtaken Japan. And we know that that comes with responsibilities. We are ready.' On the question of India mediating in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, EAM Jaishankar said: 'India has a position that many countries in the Global South probably share. We strive for a peaceful solution to this conflict. If we can do something about it, we are open to it. But of course this depends on the parties involved.' Asked why India has not imposed sanctions on Russia, he said: 'That sanction culture is a very Western way of maintaining international relations. We do not do national sanctions.' When asked why India does not take public international stances similar to other post-colonial states such as South Africa, EAM Jaishankar said: 'I conduct a foreign policy that suits our national character and our national interests. Following your logic, I can also say: why doesn't Europe behave more like us? That would be a good idea.' India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan. After this, on May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. (ANI)
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
"Illegal occupiers should return their illegally occupied parts to rightful owner: EAM Jaishankar on PoK
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday reiterated India's claim over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), stating that the region rightfully belongs to India outlining a historical context that Jammu-Kashmir joined India during the partition in 1947. During an interview with "de Volkskrant" in Netherlands, Jaishankar said, 'As for Jammu and Kashmir, it is a historical fact that it joined India when India and Pakistan separated in 1947. Our position is that the illegal occupiers should return their illegally occupied parts to the rightful owner. And that is us." Further he condemned terrorism, stating that "no, for us terrorism is an independent, completely unacceptable international crime that should not be condoned or justified." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo "The terrorists targeted the vibrant tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir with their attack. So they are prepared to destroy things in Kashmir for their own, very limited, selfish purposes. They also deliberately gave the attack a very religious tint (Hindu versus Muslim, ed.). The world should not accept such practices," he added. Jaishankar also made it clear that the Kashmir issue is a "bilateral issue" between India and Pakistan, rejecting any offer of mediation by the international community. "No, it is a bilateral issue between the countries involved," Jaishankar said, emphasizing India's stance on the matter. Live Events Emphasising India's aspirations to expand its manufacturing capabilities, citing new technology as a potential entry point. "Our hope is indeed that the manufacturing of products in India will grow and that we will be more integrated into global production chains. New technology can be an entry point. So our interests in market access cover a much broader spectrum of modern products, such as electronic hardware, chemicals or all kinds of pharmaceuticals," said Jaishankar when asked about India's ambition to take China's place as the world's factory. On imposing sanctions on Russia, Jaishankar affirmed that "that sanction culture is a very Western way of maintaining international relations. We do not do national sanctions." "India has a position that many countries in the Global South probably share. We strive for a peaceful solution to this conflict. If we can do something about it, we are open to it. But of course, this depends on the parties involved," Jaishanakr said on India's playing a mediating role in ending the Russian war against Ukraine. Jaishankar also underlined India's aspirations for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, citing the country's growing economic and global influence. "That permanent seat on the Security Council is indeed one of our goals. We believe that if the much-needed reform of the UN and the Security Council finally comes about, we will receive a lot of support for our claim," he said. "Many international initiatives have come from India in recent years. We understand what our position entails. We are now the fourth largest economy in the world, we have just overtaken Japan. And we know that comes with responsibilities. We are ready," he added. In response to the Pahalgam attack, Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). Following the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across airbases in Pakistan. On May 10, India and Pakistan reached an understanding on the cessation of hostilities. Notably, EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany from May 19 to 24.
