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The right-wing Dutch government is trying to cut more than 1bn € from the higher education sector. They tried to [edit: multilaterally] stop the #WOinActie demonstrations in Utrecht today. What they got instead are demonstrations in all 14 universities in the country.
Radboud Young Academy speakers telling it as it is!

#radbouduniversiteit #RadboudUniversity #StopTheCuts #stopde

A crowd protesting against the impending budget cuts to the higher education sector in Nijmegen, the Netherlands
#woinactie #radbouduniversiteit #radbouduniversity #stopthecuts #stopde
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to Moritz Negwer

El Duvelle
El Duvelle
• •
That's horrible.. Good that's they're resisting! Expecting this to happen very soon in the US too..
in reply to El Duvelle

Moritz Negwer
Moritz Negwer
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@elduvelle Yeah, it's bad. But it's not just the universities - the current government is pushing for austerity all across society. For example:
- axing of youth volunteer programs
- cuts to school support
- cuts to pandemic preparedness
- cuts to public health programs (e.g. obesity prevention)
- higher taxes on books and food
- higher taxes on hotels and culture (sport, music, arts)
- cuts to developmental aid
- cuts to public broadcasters
... And indeed to research and higher education.
@El Duvelle
in reply to Moritz Negwer

El Duvelle
El Duvelle
• •
how did it get to this? I always thought Dutch people were very reasonable and open. When were the last elections?
in reply to El Duvelle

Johannes
Johannes
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@elduvelle
November 2023, although far right parties have been on the ascent for a while. The Dutch system has many parties (26 in the last election, 15 of which made it to parliament), so governments are formed by multi-party coalitions. The leading party (23% of the vote) in 2023 was the far right PVV - they had been in the top 3 for years. Their leader is so toxic that other parties refused to work with them - well, until now, when multiple right wing parties caved in.
@El Duvelle
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to Johannes

El Duvelle
El Duvelle
• •
@johannes_lehmann
Thanks for the explanation!
If they only have 23% of the vote, why are they in charge??
@Johannes
in reply to El Duvelle

Johannes
Johannes
• •
@elduvelle
With 15 parties to share the pie, 23% for the PVV was the most. The 2nd party (GreenLeft) had 16%, the 3rd (the right wing, we-want-less-taxation VVD) 15%. The coalition is formed by four right-wing parties: PVV, VVD, NSC (a new party centred around one politician who became famous for fighting injustice but turned out to be quite right wing) and the BBB (a new farmer’s rights party catching the “anti-establishment” votes) - together they have >50% of parliament seats.
@El Duvelle
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to Johannes

El Duvelle
El Duvelle
• •

@johannes_lehmann
so the Right-wing and "center" parties could have allied with the green party but instead went for the far right? What is wrong with them??

Oh wait this is exactly what is happening in #France as well.. 🤦

#France @Johannes
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