The cabinet’s decision to send a government delegation, possibly with King Willem-Alexander, to the World Cup in Qatar is completely wrong for the ruling party ChristenUnie.

“Everything that’s going wrong in the football world comes together in this World Cup of Bribery,” said party leader Segers. “Despite all the dead and despite the dire situation of the minorities in Qatar, the show obviously has to go on.”

In February 2021, his party supported the House of Representatives’ motion not to send a government delegation in connection with severe forms of exploitation of the workers who worked on the stadium construction and the many deaths that resulted.

The cabinet informed the House of Representatives today that it would proceed despite the passed parliamentary motion. In his letter, Foreign Minister Hoekstra refers to the international consequences of the war in Ukraine and the problems of energy security. Qatar is an important international partner that the Netherlands cannot do without, says Hoekstra.

Segers says: “I find it perfectly understandable that we maintain contact with the country, but I really find it incomprehensible that a government delegation wants to celebrate there.”

Painful display

It is still unclear whether there is a parliamentary majority that understands the cabinet decision. At least not the SP. MP Van Dijk calls it a painful display. And GroenLinks MP Westerveld says this is a signal that human rights are subordinate to one’s own interests. “I was hoping for more humanity.”

The World Championship begins on November 20th.