What the ultimate intention was to give a press conference is not entirely clear. Only the event industry, nightclubs and discotheques that are still waiting for permission to start working in the Haagsche waiting room. The encouraging words of Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Hugo de Jong are of no use to this sector. It has been almost six months since the coronavirus plunged the Netherlands into a crisis and Rutte emphasizes that no new date will be given for discotheques and nightclubs, because those places have turned out to be sources of infection abroad.

a compliment to all of us

A compliment for all of us ”, says Prime Minister Rutte. "Because for most people the rules are the basis." We are all still stuck to all the ground rules for the time being. Because things are now going reasonably well in the Netherlands, the cabinet is not changing its course. The government acknowledges that the general measures caused damage in the first months, but maintains that they were necessary then.

position of Grapperhaus

According to Rutte, there is no doubt about his Minister of Justice as far as credibility is concerned. Politicians are human too and make mistakes they can admit. Two of the four children of Minister of Justice Ferd Grapperhaus had corona earlier this summer. That's long before the much-discussed wedding at the end of August, where the 1,5 meter rule was violated by the guests of Grapperhaus. He then transferred a symbolic amount of 780 euros to the Red Cross, twice the amount of a corona fine. 

“I understand that people have questions about that, but then I say to those people: one, no one is holy. Not us, not people in the country. Not politicians, no one. Two, if you make a mistake, that's leadership too, you admit it. He did. And I think that's important too. So in that respect he is credible to me. We also discussed this at the press conference on Friday and I honestly believe that ”, says Rutte.

In the coming months, as long as there is no vaccine, it will remain important that we protect ourselves against the virus. And at the same time live our lives as normally as possible. Rutte emphasizes that if you work hard all week, and at the same time try to keep to all agreements as well as possible. Then there is also the space to go to the cinema. And to the terrace and to the catering industry.

Also read: The Hague asks young people to be tested for corona