Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09THEHAGUE261
2009-04-22 10:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS: RISK TO COALITION GOVERNMENT OVER JSF
how-toVZCZCXRO5872 OO RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG DE RUEHTC #0261 1121047 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 221047Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2775 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAT/AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM PRIORITY 4204
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000261
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: RISK TO COALITION GOVERNMENT OVER JSF
DECISION
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
(SBU) The Dutch parliament is to decide in the next two days
whether to approve the procurement of two Joint Strike
Fighter (JSF) test planes. The vote depends on the position
taken by the coalition partner Labor (PvdA) party, as neither
the JSF advocates nor the opponents have a majority. Faced
with strong opposition from within its own rank and file, the
PvdA is reluctant to consent to the test plane purchase
because it believes this would be a de facto commitment to
buy JSF in the future. However, the entire coalition
government, including all PvdA ministers, has already agreed
to the intended procurement, so the question is whether the
PvdA is ready to defy the government. Key PvdA spokesmen
stated the party was not aiming for a crisis and still hoped
that a compromise could be worked out. "We will enter the
debate with an open mind," said PvdA floorleader Mariette
Hamer. If the PvdA persists in its opposition, however, it
could bring down the government.
GALLAGHER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: RISK TO COALITION GOVERNMENT OVER JSF
DECISION
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
(SBU) The Dutch parliament is to decide in the next two days
whether to approve the procurement of two Joint Strike
Fighter (JSF) test planes. The vote depends on the position
taken by the coalition partner Labor (PvdA) party, as neither
the JSF advocates nor the opponents have a majority. Faced
with strong opposition from within its own rank and file, the
PvdA is reluctant to consent to the test plane purchase
because it believes this would be a de facto commitment to
buy JSF in the future. However, the entire coalition
government, including all PvdA ministers, has already agreed
to the intended procurement, so the question is whether the
PvdA is ready to defy the government. Key PvdA spokesmen
stated the party was not aiming for a crisis and still hoped
that a compromise could be worked out. "We will enter the
debate with an open mind," said PvdA floorleader Mariette
Hamer. If the PvdA persists in its opposition, however, it
could bring down the government.
GALLAGHER