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Dutch government avoids collapse after state secretary quits

Nora Achahbar of the NSC party in the Catshuis residence of Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof in The Hague, 15 November, 2024
Nora Achahbar of the NSC party in the Catshuis residence of Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof in The Hague, 15 November, 2024 Copyright  Phil Nijhuis/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
Copyright Phil Nijhuis/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
By Euronews with AP
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Nora Achahbar quit after hearing racist comments in cabinet as it discussed the violent Amsterdam football match that was marred by antisemitism and Islamophobia.

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The Dutch government dominated by hard-right leader Geert Wilders has - for now - survived a government crisis that centred on the resignation of the finance state secretary.

Moroccan-born Nora Achahbar of the centrist New Social Contract party said she had heard racist comments in cabinet about immigrants after Israeli fans were assaulted following a soccer game in Amsterdam.

Last week, Party for Freedom leader, Geert Wilders, blamed Moroccans for the violence, claiming that ''we saw Muslims hunting Jews'' and added it was fuelled by ''Moroccans who want to destroy Jews.''

Wilders said those convicted of involvement should be deported if they have dual nationality.

On Friday, Morocco-born Nora Achahbar of the centrist New Social Contract party announced her resignation as finance secretary.

She said, ''the polarising manners have had such an impact on me that I could, or would, no longer fulfil my role as state secretary.''

Geert Wilders of the PVV party leaves the Catshuis residence of Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof in The Hague, 16 November, 2024
Geert Wilders of the PVV party leaves the Catshuis residence of Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof in The Hague, 16 November, 2024 Phil Nijhuis/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved

In a statement, Achahbar wrote ''polarisation in society is dangerous because it undermines the bond between people. Because of that, we start seeing each other as opponent instead of fellow citizens.''

Government crisis averted

Prime Minister Dick Schoof said after the resignation that among the four coalition parties ''we saw that we wanted to continue'', and denied there was racism involved in the talks of and among leading coalition officials.

While politicians condemned antisemitism and agreed that perpetrators of the violence should be prosecuted and handed harsh punishments, opposition legislators accused Geert Wilders of inflaming the situation.

Wilders, whose party became the biggest in last year's election, also sowed some dissent within the four-party coalition with his comments.

The leader of the Green-left-Socialist opposition, Frans Timmermans, lauded Achahbar even before any move was announced.

A group of pro-Palestinian protesters walk toward police line, with police vans driving in the background near the soccer stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Nov. 7, 2024.
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters walk toward police line, with police vans driving in the background near the soccer stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Nov. 7, 2024. RTL Nieuws/AP

''In this government, racist remarks are the order of the day. This government is not for all Dutch people,'' he said.

Violence erupted in the Dutch capital before and after last week's football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Fans from both sides were involved in unrest.

A number of Maccabi fans chanted anti-Arab slogans and ripped a Palestinian flag off a building, while some men carried out 'hit-and-run' attacks on Maccabi fans and people they thought were Jews, according to a 12-page report on the violence issued by Amsterdam authorities.

Five people were treated in hospital and police made at least 60 arrests.

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