Parties jostle for position in pre-election budget debate

MPs will spend the next two days debating the caretaker government’s 2024 spending plans in what commentators widely regard as the start of the election campaign. Normally the budget debate, or Algemene Politieke Beschouwing, is considered to be the most important debate of the year, during which opposition parties attempt to squeeze out more concessions in return for their support. Budget is a “stagnant pool” or “new era”. What the papers say €2 billion to fight poverty, paid for by...