Despite a parliamentary vote, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands still does not have to pay taxes. Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced in The Hague that too few members of parliament had approved such a request.
According to the constitution, the king, his wife Máxima, crown princess Amalia and the king’s mother, Princess Beatrix, do not have to pay any taxes. The prime minister explained that there was no basis for changing the constitution.
In October, a majority in Parliament called for the royal family’s tax exemption to be abolished. However, the prime minister has now announced that a two-thirds majority is required to change the constitution, i.e. 100 of the 150 MPs. Only 90 MPs approved the motion.
