D66 has shifted the focus of its new election manifesto from two years ago, putting democracy, security and housing at the top of the agenda, rather than climate.
In the programme Het kan wél, published on Friday, the party calls for 10 new cities to be built to tackle the housing shortage, alongside phasing out mortgage tax relief. The revenue would be used to lower income tax, which party leader Rob Jetten said would benefit everyone while cooling house price growth.
The manifesto also proposes replacing the current benefit system with a single “individual basic amount” for all citizens, eventually scrapping health and childcare allowances.
At the same time, the party wants to cut back on the state pension (AOW) by decoupling it from automatic rises alongside the minimum wage. According to D66, this would slow the pace of pension increases and keep social security affordable in the face of an ageing population.
Climate policy, which opened D66’s 2023 manifesto, now appears in chapter five, together with energy and the economy. The party insists, however, that climate goals for 2030, 2040 and 2050 must be met, with the ultimate aim of a pollution-free country.
On defence, D66 supports Nato’s target of spending at least 3.5% of GDP, but says this cannot come at the expense of education or the welfare safety net. The party wants the Netherlands to become a European leader in areas such as AI, drones, space technology and cyber security by 2030.
Other pledges include halving the healthcare deductible for chronically ill and disabled people, adding dentistry to the basic health insurance package, and introducing a law requiring all political parties to be democratic in their internal structure — a move widely seen as targeting Geert Wilders’ PVV.
On migration, D66 wants the refugee treaty to be modernised and special facilities created for asylum seekers who cause trouble. The final version of the manifesto will be voted on at the party’s congress on October 6, ahead of the October 29 general election.
