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Dual nationality under Labour fire

Tuesday 23 December 2008

Immigrants should give up their original nationality if they become Dutch, Labour party chairwoman Lilianne Ploumen says in an interview with Tuesday’s Volkskrant.

‘To me loyalty has nothing to do with nationality. But the country of origin must lose its grip. To become Dutch you must, in principle, give up your old nationality,’ Ploumen said.

Earlier this month, the national statistics office CBS said the Netherlands has over a million people with dual nationality.

Ploumen’s apparent rejection of dual nationality goes against her party’s stand until now. One Labour junior minister and the new Labour mayor of Rotterdam both have dual nationality.

Party divisions

The Volkskrant interview coincides with the publication of a Labour party policy document on integration written by Ploumen entitled Divided Pasts, Shared Futures.

In the document, Ploumen says the Labour party has been too tolerant towards immigrants for too long. ‘The one mistake we must never make again is to swallow criticism of cultures or religions in the name of tolerance,’ the paper quotes her as saying.

Newcomers to the Netherlands must choose to join Dutch society. The job of the government is to defend the state of law, tackle misunderstandings and generate opportunities through high-value education, good social services and an active labour market policy, Ploumen said.

Dutch standards

Local politicians who have to deal with actual problems – such as the refusal of some people to shake hands – will have three choices: to tackle the situation according to Dutch standards, to confront or to tolerate.

Honour killings should be tackled according to the law, she said. But the wearing of Muslim headscarves in the classroom is an example of where tolerance should be used. And equality between the sexes is an issue requiring confrontation, the paper quoted her as saying.

The Labour party will vote on the policy document in March.

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Readers' comments

These ideas were Geert Wilders and Rita Verdonk's ideas first. PVDA are stealing these ideas and should be called for what they truly are, hypocrites and fakes! PVDA have members of PVDA with dual nationalities in government positions of power! PVDA should come up with their own ideas instead of stealing ideas from other parties who had these ideas long before PVDA ever came up with it and also fought against these ideas in the near distance past, as we all remember well.

By sandra | December 23, 2008 10:12 AM

'To become Dutch, you must in principle, give up your old nationality' Plouman said.

What is happenning to this country? Have Dutch politicians forgetten the lessons of the last century? Such rhetoric could have come out of the mouth of Adolf Hitler and we all know what he did. What next Plouman... are you going to daub Morrocan and Turkish businesses with a big letter 'M' for muslim and make all followers of Islam wear arm band indicating so?

Islamists don't scare me. Dutch Christians terrify me.

By DEEP THROAT | December 23, 2008 11:03 AM

If the Dutch government continues to try to stop dual nationality they will be in the same situation as they were about "inburgering" -- the European courts will not uphold a law that is discriminatory and aimed at specific nationalities, i.e., Moroccans, Turks, etc., which it obviously is. Therefore, all non-EU nationals will be subject to the same laws.

I am a US national married to a Dutch national. The reason I do not get a Dutch passport is because I do not trust the Dutch government to allow me to keep my US passport. They are currently harassing many dual US/Dutch nationals to give up their US citizenship. Having to give up my US citizenship is unacceptable should I ever need to return to the US to to care for family members and also because many of my work contracts require US citizenship. Therefore, I remain marginalized in The Netherlands and unable to participate fully in society, although I employ Dutch people, pay full taxes, and contribute to Dutch society.

There are currently about 30,000 Americans living in The Netherlands and about 100,000 Dutch living in the US. Should the Dutch government continue along these lines I hope that we can mobilize to get the US government to force dual Dutch/US nationals to give up their Dutch citizenship.

By Quest | December 23, 2008 12:42 PM

Absolutely ridiculous thing to say. As long as you are a law-abiding, tax paying citizen there is no conflict in having 2 nationalities.
I recently received my dutch passport, which I will keep in addition to my american passport.
I was proud to be dutch! My husband is dutch and my future kids will be dutch. I have a full time job, a nice house and have never even received a speeding ticket in this country. How dare they insist that in order for me to become dutch I must give up the country of my birth!! If this country was filled with native dutch like me, they would be much better off. I think they should put their time, energy and money into something that actually matters and will make any kind of a difference in the Netherlands.

By Zelle | December 23, 2008 1:12 PM

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