MPs demand full disclosure of NSC tax minister’s €6m portfolio

Deputy tax minister Folkert Idsinga is under pressure to publish details of his €6 million investment portfolio after a majority of MPs backed calls for full disclosure.

Idsinga, a former VVD MP who joined Pieter Omtzigt’s NSC party last year, has refused to disclose which companies he owns shares and other financial interests in, claiming it is a “private matter”.

On Tuesday, Geert Wilders, owner of the coalition’s largest party, PVV, added his voice to those demanding the disruption of the minister’s financial affairs.

“This does not seem to me to be good governance or solid justification,” Wilders said on social media site X.

Wilders’ remarks were a direct reference to the NSC’s election campaign promise to create a more robust, transparent system of government in which MPs are more accountable to parliament.

The two coalition partners have been locked in a stalemate for weeks over Wilders’ plan to impose tougher asylum rules using emergency powers, while the NSC wanted to pass regular legislation through the fast-track procedure so parliament could review and vote on the asylum application. amount.

Wilders last week emergency powers have gone off courseThe measures themselves, such as border checks and failed asylum seeker detentions, remained intact, although they faced strong opposition in the Senate and were almost certain to be challenged in the courts.

Conflict of interest?

Idsinga had discussed his interests during the formation of the cabinet and kept his affairs “at arm’s length” when he accepted the post of minister responsible for tax affairs and tax administration (Belastingdienst).

“In concrete terms, this means that I have no recourse or authority over (my investments) during my term of office, and – where relevant – other people have the authority to exercise my voting rights,” he said.

But opposition parties such as GroenLinks-PvdA, D66 and the Socialist Party (SP) said Idsinga should disclose full details of his financial assets to ensure there was no conflict of interest.

“Where is the good governance of the NSC?” SP leader Jimmy Dijk asked this question, adding that MPs should know whether the minister is making decisions in the national interest or in his own interests.

Idsinga He told RTL NieuwsWho published the original story based on the financial holding company’s annual report that it supports transparency in government.

“But there is such a thing as people’s private lives,” he said. “I do my best to be as transparent as possible within the rules as stated and I don’t see why I should go any further than that.”