WILLEMSTAD - During a parliamentary session, a proposal to amend a financial law was extensively discussed, raising concerns about tax exemptions. The amendment adds a new provision to Article 25 of the law, prompting questions about whether this would grant the minister more power to forgive taxes. The MAN faction, in particular, is seeking clarity on this issue. 

MP Steven Martina (MAN-PIN) pointed out that Article 25 typically prevents ministers from canceling debts. However, the proposed change seems to suggest that this restriction may not apply to taxes. Martina reminded the parliament that the Council of Advice (RvA) had already warned in 2015 that the law applies to taxes unless explicitly stated otherwise. 

Martina expressed concern that the amendment could be intended to pave the way for the forgiveness of 3 billion guilders in taxes by Finance Minister Javier Silvania (MFK). He questioned whether the change is designed to shield the minister from accusations of illegal actions. 

MP Ramon Yung (MFK) clarified that the proposed amendment does not grant the minister new powers to forgive taxes. He explained that the law pertains to the management of government expenditures and is unrelated to tax collection. “It concerns ‘civil claims of the country,’ meaning amounts covered by the Civil Code, not tax claims, which are governed by tax laws,” Yung said.