Dutch Cabinet Falls in Dispute Over Bid to Cut Air Pollution
The seven-year government of Dutch Premier Ruud Lubbers fell Tuesday after the junior partner in the center-right coalition Cabinet clashed over a plan to clean up the heavily polluted environment.
Lubbers, a Christian Democrat, announced the resignation of his Cabinet at the end of a parliamentary debate on the $3.65 billion plan.
The program came under heavy fire from the right-wing People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, the junior partner in the coalition government since 1982.
The specific issue that spawned the government’s resignation late Tuesday was a Lubbers proposal to end a $325 million tax break for commuters.
The proposal is aimed at reducing car exhaust fumes and congestion on the highway system by inducing motorists to take mass transit. The additional tax money would also help fund a plan to reduce pollution to 30% of current levels by the year 2010.
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