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https://scottsantens.substack.com/p/the-netherlands-may-become-the-first-country-with-universal-basic-income-ubi>
"
The Hague - The strong performance of the Dutch political party Democrats 66
(D66) in the general election on October 29, 2025, where they tied for the most
seats, has ignited a conversation about the evolution of political ideologies.
Running on an explicitly social liberal platform, D66’s success, which included
a proposal for an “individual basic amount” a Universal Basic Income (UBI) by
another name, has led many to observe a notable shift in how such policies are
framed – from being decried as “Socialist” just a few years ago to now being
considered “pragmatic centrism.”
In the recent election, D66, led by Rob Jetten, secured 26 seats in the
150-seat House of Representatives, a significant gain that positioned them as a
major force in the next coalition negotiations. Their campaign was
characterized by a positive and forward-looking message, with analysts noting
that voters were drawn to their “stable, centrist coalition” appeal.
A key plank of their platform was the introduction of an “individual basic
amount,” a policy aimed at simplifying the current complex benefits system.
This proposal is a form of UBI, an idea that has been debated in the
Netherlands for decades. The proposal is essentially a fully refundable tax
credit with monthly payments, similar to America’s enhanced child tax credit in
2021, but for all adults instead of most kids."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
