It is up to MPs to decide whether to drop the proposed bans on dual nationality and the burqa, not the cabinet, home affairs minister Liesbeth Spies told parliament on Tuesday evening.
Spies said two weeks ago in an interview with the Volkskrant that as far as she is concerned, both pieces of legislation can be dropped.
But the minister stressed on Tuesday she was speaking then as a candidate for leadership of the Christian Democrats. ‘I can and will defend both pieces of legislation,’ Spies said.
It is up to parliament to decide what pending legislation can proceed now the government has fallen and ministers are supposed to simply mind the shop. So far, MPs have not declared any issues to be controversial.