THE HAGUE, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Dutch King Willem-Alexander said on Tuesday that the Netherlands will pursue a stricter migration policy as he delivered his annual speech at the traditional opening of the parliamentary year.
The new parliament welcomed the new coalition government under the leadership of Prime Minister Dick Schoof. Traditionally, the first day of the parliamentary year is held on the third Tuesday of September, in the Dutch administrative center of The Hague.
First formed in July 2024, the new government comprised the Party for Freedom (PVV), the New Social Contract (NSC), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB).
Last Friday, the coalition presented its policy program, which prioritized taking stronger control over asylum and migration.
Echoing this sentiment in his address, King Willem-Alexander emphasized the government's intention to reduce asylum numbers in the coming years.
"Due to various forms of migration, the Dutch population has grown faster than expected, reaching 18 million inhabitants," said the king. "The government is going to reduce the number of asylum applications. Stricter, faster and more modest (numbers) are the key words."
Under the proposed plan, the government will activate an emergency law as soon as possible by declaring an asylum crisis. This law would allow the government to immediately implement measures to limit asylum seeker numbers without prior approval from the House of Representatives or the Senate, although these bodies will assess the law at a later date. ■
