Vijlbrief threatens to resign if Groningen gas field closes much later | Politics

“Last night I was surprised. It has now turned into mild anger,” the very emotional Vijlbrief told the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Vijlbrief referred to the decision of the Senate to take longer to discuss the law that regulates the permanent closure of the gas tap in Groningen. This law was passed almost unanimously in the House of Representatives last month. Only FVD and JA21 voted against.

The intention is that the law will also be passed by the Senate before October 1, when the new gas year starts. But the House of Representatives wanted this to happen as quickly as possible.

The discussion of the law was therefore penciled in for April 9 on the agenda of the Senate, but several Senate factions thought that was too soon. Senators from VVD, BBB, PVV, SGP, JA21, FVD and 50PLUS first want more clarity about security of supply and the geopolitical situation.

The argument about concerns about security of supply in particular struck a chord with Vijlbrief. The inquiry committee that investigated Groningen gas extraction concluded early last year that this had been used for years as a smokescreen to continue gas extraction. Money always came before the people of Groningen.

“The report is called Groningers above gas. We should no longer give priority to security of supply. Has the Senate learned nothing?” Vijlbrief wondered out loud.

The minister is also very concerned about the delay in the Senate. This is because VVD senator Caspar van den Berg suggested on Tuesday to wait to legally establish the end of gas extraction until another new law has been discussed.

This concerns a law on security of supply that the outgoing cabinet is still working on. This must therefore still be sent to the House of Representatives. “We knowingly leave people in Groningen in uncertainty for a year to a year and a half longer. They heard me say that the gas field will close this year. What does that do to confidence in politics?” said Vijlbrief.

The Secretary of State said he hoped this was all a misunderstanding. “I assume that we will soon have the next round of questions and I assume that we will deal with the law quickly afterwards.”

That is indeed the case, Senator Van den Berg emphasized on Wednesday. “The fact that we want to link this law to an expected law on security of supply is indeed based on a misunderstanding.” Van den Berg was not aware on Tuesday evening that this law could take another year and a half.

The Senate has decided to ask additional written questions to Vijlbrief. This often happens several times during a legal hearing. “After this round of questions, the law can be dealt with immediately,” says Van den Berg.

His colleague in the House of Representatives, Silvio Erkens, also assured in the debate on Wednesday that the end of gas extraction in Groningen “is not up for discussion”. BBB leader Caroline van der Plas also announced on Wednesday morning that the BBB faction in the Senate will vote “100 percent in favor of closing” the gas field.

Moreover, no gas has been extracted from Groningen since October – with the exception of two very cold days. Despite the confusion that has arisen, the Senate is expected to adopt the law regulating the permanent closure of the gas field in the short term. Then this year, as Groningen has promised, the dismantling of the locations can also start.