Holland's Queen Beatrix has fallen two places in the country's rich list - just a month after the government called for cuts to the royal budget. Politicians had urged Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende to force the royal family to make cutbacks in the current economic climate. But just weeks after he refused, saying it would be unfair, the royal's estimated wealth has dropped by around 20 per cent and is below the billion Euro mark for the first time. According to Netherland's Quote magazine's annual list, the royals' estimated wealth now stands at 800 million Euros, putting them in 25th place. In an unprecedented move, queen Beatrix's press office was so thrilled by the news they released a statement.
- 11/5/2009
- Monsters and Critics
Amsterdam - Dutch lawmakers Thursday strongly criticized Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's handling of the royal family's financial affairs, and demanded during a parliamentary budget debate a reduction of the monarchy's budget for 2010. The government should no longer reimburse the royal family's travel expenses, said the Labour Party (the second largest coalition party) along with the leftist Socialist and rightist Freedom parties (both in opposition). 'Private expenses should be financed privately,' Anja Timmer of the Labour party said in reference to the 610,000 euros (896,000 dollars) budgeted for royal travel expenses in 2010. Ronald van Kraak of the Socialists proposed a freeze of the royal house's annual income. Parties from across the spectrum also accused...
- 10/8/2009
- Monsters and Critics
Amsterdam - Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende is expected Thursday to face a heated debate in parliament where he is due to defend annual budget for the country's royal family. Despite the government's aim to cut expenses by some 20 per cent in reaction to the ongoing economic crisis, the royal house - with 319 full-time employees - is due to receive a budget increase in 2010. The approximate 39.6 million euros (54.3 million dollars) budgeted for the monarchy in the coming year does not cover among other things an undisclosed amount for security expenses, 1.8 million euros for state visits abroad or the 26.3 million euros for the maintenance of royal palaces. The royal family...
- 10/8/2009
- Monsters and Critics
Holland's royal family has been blasted by the country's government. Several politicians have urged Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende to force Queen Beatrix and her family to set an example and make cutbacks in the current economic climate, calling for the royal budget to be cut by 20 per cent, or for the queen to take a 20 per cent pay cut. However, the Prime Minister insisted the suggestions were: "Not fair." He added: "We have just agreed on the terms of the royal budget. In good times their allowances grow with the salaries of the civil servants, in other times they take a cut." The queen currently receives a personal income of 834,000 Euros - 2.5 per cent more than last...
- 9/18/2009
- Monsters and Critics
Holland's Queen Beatrix has vowed to cut government spending to ease the global financial crisis. The 71-year-old monarch spoke about the country's economic situation in her annual address to parliament on Tuesday (15.09.09). She said: "People are losing their jobs, the number of bankruptcies is rising quickly, assets built up over years are shrinking and government finances are unavoidably showing large deficits. "If budgetary policy is not changed, serious and undesirable results will arise for the level of taxes and the affordability of services such as health care, education and pensions." The speech - which was written by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's government and read out in the The Hague's historic Hall of Knights - was Beatrix's first official...
- 9/17/2009
- Monsters and Critics
AMSTERDAM -- Dutch culture minister Ronald Plasterk on Monday unveiled plans to cut the salaries of presenters working for public broadcasters in the Netherlands.
In his opinion, the maximum fee should be no more than 200,000 euros ($316,240) a year. Currently, an annual salary of 400,000 euros-500,000 euros ($632,480-$790,560) is paid to some of the better-known presenters, sports commentators and show hosts.
According to Plasterk, these salaries, supplied by Dutch taxpayers, should not exceed by too much the salary of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who earns 180,000 euros ($284,600) a year.
In his opinion, the maximum fee should be no more than 200,000 euros ($316,240) a year. Currently, an annual salary of 400,000 euros-500,000 euros ($632,480-$790,560) is paid to some of the better-known presenters, sports commentators and show hosts.
According to Plasterk, these salaries, supplied by Dutch taxpayers, should not exceed by too much the salary of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who earns 180,000 euros ($284,600) a year.
- 6/30/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Prime Minister of The Netherlands has distanced himself from a controversial new anti-Islam film, insisting he "rejects" the theme of director Geert Wilders' project.
Jan Peter Balkenende has spoken out after Dutch lawmakers gave Wilders permission to screen his violent 15-minute film, warning him he could become the target of protesters.
The film sets verses from Islam's holiest book, The Koran, against the backdrop of terrorist attacks.
Upon hearing that top lawmakers had green-lighted Wilders' plans to screen the film, Prime Minister Balkenende said, "The film equates Islam with violence. We reject this."
The Netherlands was among the European nations targeted by violent protestors in 2006 when Muslims objected to anti-Islam cartoons, which mocked the prophet Muhammad, in local newspapers.
Jan Peter Balkenende has spoken out after Dutch lawmakers gave Wilders permission to screen his violent 15-minute film, warning him he could become the target of protesters.
The film sets verses from Islam's holiest book, The Koran, against the backdrop of terrorist attacks.
Upon hearing that top lawmakers had green-lighted Wilders' plans to screen the film, Prime Minister Balkenende said, "The film equates Islam with violence. We reject this."
The Netherlands was among the European nations targeted by violent protestors in 2006 when Muslims objected to anti-Islam cartoons, which mocked the prophet Muhammad, in local newspapers.
- 3/28/2008
- WENN
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