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Max von Kreyfelt stated in his column that the government should first cut its own spending before asking citizens to be frugal. He cited the renovation of the Binnenhof as an example: it was estimated in 2015 to cost 475 million euros, but according to him, the costs had risen to at least 2.7 billion euros by 2026. He wrote that the Court of Audit had called the original estimate unrealistically low. Von Kreyfelt urged ministries to demonstrate what their expenditures yielded. He mentioned European contributions, nitrogen policy, climate programs, migration, and development aid, and asked what problem was being solved, at what cost, and when funding would stop. He also suggested that it should first be demonstrated at 2.5 percent of GDP what Defense could purchase, organize, and staff. According to him, the NATO agreement for 2035 required 5 percent: at least 3.5 percent for defense and a maximum of 1.5 percent for broader security. He wrote that Donald Trump had requested 5 percent. The columnist also criticized the use of consultants and administrative layers. According to him, budget deficits could arise from overly ambitious promises, poor estimates, and too few cuts, and these did not prove that citizens were paying too little. He concluded that the government needed to shrink first. https://t.co/V2P6pFuNy1 #Overheid #Financiën #Soberheid (translated)

In a fierce and personal TV debate for the Brazilian elections, Lula and Bolsonaro attack each other with accusations of corruption and compromising national interests, while both candidates defend their economic policies and approach to crime. #Lula #Bolsonaro #Brazilië (translated)

The approval ratings for Macron have never been this low. His electoral power rests on a very narrow base of wealthy French people and university-educated individuals from the upper middle class. He lost the parliamentary elections two years ago, but due to the way French democracy works, a president can simply remain in power, even if a majority of left- and right-wing French people reject his policies. The political support for Macron has only become narrower in recent years – and the sense of powerlessness among the French has grown even greater, notes French economist Bruno Amable, author of the book L’Illusion du bloc bourgeois (2017). #Frankrijk #protesten #geweld (translated)

A week before the decisive second round of the presidential election in Brazil, incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his challenger Flávio Bolsonaro lashed out at each other with accusations and insults during a TV debate. #AUA #ProtesteFrankreich #BuschbrandKanada (translated)

Doctors have suspended their work at the strictest asylum seekers' center in the Netherlands, the HTL in Hoogeveen, because they oppose the COA policy that allows the admission of asylum seekers with severe psychiatric conditions, which they believe is untenable and poses significant health risks. #asielzoekers #psychiatrischeproblemen #gezondheidszorg (translated)

Rarely have I seen such a gigantic "Fuck You!" to every decent citizen who is very serious about "never again" experiencing a fascist dictatorship in Germany. But insulting the citizens fits seamlessly into the behavior of the CDU leadership, which is teaching this to its young members. (translated)

Dr. Jan van de Beek stated that, in his opinion, the Netherlands largely allowed hopeless asylum migrants who formed a burden on society in various ways. He argued that Poland repeatedly suspended asylum rights and called it a smart idea as long as the laws and treaties were not amended. According to him, this seemed possible within the EU, allowing the Netherlands to adopt this policy. #asielbeleid #immigratie #Polen (translated)

Evert Oostdam wrote that he had served the Netherlands for 24 years as a soldier and had always put Dutch interests first during various missions. He said he had to restrain himself from burning his medals when he saw what he believed was being created by the leftist policies of the country. #militair #Nederland #trots (translated)

The handball club TuS Vinnhorst is raising serious allegations of racism after a player was attacked during a match with the insulting term "monkey pig" from the spectator area, and emphasizes that racism in sports must not be tolerated. #Rassismus #Handball #TuSVinnhorst (translated)

Joost Jansen wrote that he had Chat prepare a speech for Rob Jetten in response to serious riots in Amsterdam. The proposed text stated that violence against society was unacceptable, while demonstrating and expressing criticism were part of democracy. The speech proposed three measures: maintaining the rule of law, supporting victims and affected entrepreneurs, and investigating the causes of social tensions. The text also stated that researching those causes was no excuse for violence. The recovery of trust, according to the speech, would depend on consistent action and rules that applied to everyone. #Amsterdam #democratie #veiligheid (translated)

Raisa Blommestijn wrote that images from Marseille showed how the far-left and migrants had united against the French state. She warned that the Netherlands faced the same fate if the open-border policy was not revised. https://t.co/w8WfxDTBQa #Marseille #Migratie #Politiek (translated)

The article discusses the controversies surrounding FC Bayern Munich, particularly the offensive remarks and the associated legal disputes, while analyzing the elegant and simultaneously critical forms of expression in football language. #FCBayern #Drecksack #Bundesliga (translated)

Oscar Hammerstein wrote that he found the authorities condescending and incompetent, and that according to him they had exploited the problems of housing seekers to spread false information about the harmful consequences of their failed migration policy. https://t.co/7gi0pc2RCp #woningmarkt #migratiebeleid #beleid (translated)