The Netherlands: Insurance companies face 10% ceiling on premium hikes

The financial services complaints authority says insurance companies must limit premium rises to 10% following ‘dozens’ of reports about increases of 20% and more.

Two of the complaints came from Achmea and Meeus Groep customers, who were both faced with what Kifid said were ‘exorbitant’ premium hikes.  In one case Achmea raised the premiums for a general insurance package 20.22%.

In the second, the cost of moped insurance via the  Meeús Groep went up almost 174%. The premium increase in these two cases was so far-reaching that the contracts should be considered new ones, Kifid said. And because the insurance companies had not cancelled the old contracts, they remained valid and the old premiums still applied.

Changes to current contracts should be limited in terms of their financial impact and a maximum rise of 10% would be appropriate, the organisation said in a statement.

Kifid’s recommendations are not legally binding, but are usually adopted by insurers and the organisation said it expected they would fall into line about a maximum premium hike.

Americans spent $11 billion in bank fees in 2015 — here’s how to avoid them

Some 10 million U.S. households don’t use any type of bank account for their money, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. While some people who don’t use a bank say it’s because they don’t have enough money, a third of them say it’s because they have a fear of high or unpredictable account fees. They may be right to have that concern.

Banks made about $11.2 billion in fees from consumers’ overdraft and non-sufficient fund penalties in 2015, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

And just 8% of account holders (typically those with low incomes, and who also may be young) carry overdrafts and pay about 75% of all overdraft fees, according to the CFPB.

More than two-thirds of people who consistently overdraft said they would prefer to just have their transaction declined instead, according to research from the Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonprofit based in Philadelphia. But they don’t realize they could have it that way now. Since 2010, banks have been required by law to let consumers opt in to allow their accounts to be overdrafted (if they don’t, their transactions would be declined); still, according to Pew, 52% of overdrafters don’t remember opting in. Thaddeus King, an officer for Pew’s consumer banking project, said it’s also possible to revoke permission for overdrafting, which is an option some might want to consider.

Read more: Americans spent $11 billion in bank fees in 2015 — here’s how to avoid them - MarketWatch

Spain's Socialists vote to allow Rajoy minority government

The opposition Socialists in Spain have effectively voted to allow the conservatives under Mariano Rajoy to rule as a minority government.

Party leaders decided by a majority at their meeting in Madrid to abstain when Mr Rajoy puts his Popular Party (PP) government to a vote in parliament.

The country had faced the prospect of a third general election inside a year.

But the Socialists forced out their leader, Pedro Sanchez, earlier this month after he rejected abstention.

Mr Rajoy has led a caretaker administration since losing his overall majority in an election last December. A repeat election in June failed to end the impasse but strengthened his hand. 

The Netherlands: The 2017 Dutch parliamentary elections: A fragmented picture as Rutte and Wilders draw their battle lines: by Hans Vollaard

With only five months to go until the next parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, scheduled for March 2017, the country’s political parties are gearing up for the campaign. Debates over the annual budget in September gave a glimpse into the strategies of the main characters and how the main campaign themes of healthcare, migration and the economy might play out. The precise level of support each party will achieve is hard to predict due to the volatility of Dutch elections, but a fragmented parliament and a complicated coalition formation process are likely.

The elections for the Tweede Kamer, which is the most important chamber of parliament, will take place on 15 March if the present coalition government manages to serve its full term – which would be the first time this has occurred since 2002. Parties’ names and candidate lists should be registered with the Electoral Council in the coming months. The election will use a proportional representation system across a single nationwide constituency, ensuring the share of the 150 seats each party will receive is in line with the number of votes they obtain.

At present, the Tweede Kamer harbours 15 parliamentary groups, including five splinter groups. The current government relies on the support of the right-wing VVD of Prime Minister Mark Rutte (40 seats) and the centre-left PvdA (36 seats). The latter is internationally known for its Minister of Finance, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the chair of the Eurogroup (the ministers of finance of the Eurozone countries).

The recent budget debate underlined Rutte’s status as an able survivor in Dutch politics. Since becoming prime minister after elections in 2010 and 2012, he has shown sufficient flexibility to gain majority support for a series of major reforms to sustain the welfare state in the fragmented first and second chambers of parliament. Rutte now sits at the centre of the VVD’s campaign as the party looks toward 2017.

The leaders of the opposition parties will mostly be the same as in the last election in 2012, from the Animal Rights Party to the pensioners’ party, 50Plus. Only the small GroenLinks and ChristenUnie parties have changed leaders among the main players, although the PvdA still has to decide on a new leader (with its present parliamentary leader Diederik Samson one of the candidates). A new party, Denk, which split-off from the PvdA, will campaign for the sake of migrants and their descendants. On the right, two new parties are to be led by the leading faces of the referendum campaign against the EU-Ukraine Treaty which took place in April.

At present, the VVD’s main opponent is the anti-Islam and anti-EU Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, which has topped some recent polls. The VVD is in favour of fiscal austerity and a (European) free market, while it also advocates tough anti-crime and anti-terrorism policies, and is strict on migration and integration. The budget debate showed how the VVD has sought to distinguish itself from Wilders and the PVV. The party has emphasised its role in steering the Netherlands through economically difficult times and has also underlined that everyone should accept Dutch norms and values: that is, that Muslims and migrants should accept, but can also enjoy the country’s constitutional freedoms.

Read more: EUROPP – The 2017 Dutch parliamentary elections: A fragmented picture as Rutte and Wilders draw their battle lines

The Netherlands: Geert Wilders PVV drops 6 percentage points in latest election popularity political poll

The ruling VVD would be the biggest party in parliament if there was a general election tomorrow, according to a new poll from Kantar TNS, formerlly TNS Nipo.

The poll gives the right-wing Liberals 27 seats in the 150 seat parliament, or 18% of the vote. Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam PVV, which was on target to win 29 seats in the September poll, has now slumped to 23.

In June, Nipo put support for the PVV as high as 36 seats, or 24% support. The middle ground is still held by the Liberal Democrats (D66), Socialists and Christian Democrats on 18 and 16 seats respectively.

Wilders who has alligned himself closely with Donald Trump, and even went to the Republican convention to openly endorse him can expect even more backlash from that decision if Trump looses in November

Almere-digest

Middle East: "A call for Peace, Forgiveness and Hope - Not for War but for Love"

While most of us in the more affluent societies around the world are enjoying, praising, and, often also bragging (to friends, family,on social media, etc.), about the pleasures of life this corrupt consumer society has brought us, let us also not forget to pray for those who are suffering and living under unimaginable conditions of despair and hopelessness.

Often, as a result of war, created by political deceit, greed and hypocrisy. Unfortunately, all this terror of war is also often caused by not only their, but also our very own Governments.

 May your prayers, however, not be one for Revenge, but for Peace, Forgiveness and Hope. Not for War. but for Love.

Check out the video: A call for Peace

Safe sea and air traffic navigation: German-Dutch pair to aid navigation around offshore wind farms - by Ivan Shumkov

German marine aids to navigation firm Sabik Offshore GmbH has partnered with Dutch aviation obstruction lights supplier Orga Aviation BV to develop and market an integrated solution for safe sea and air traffic around offshore wind farms.

This was announced on Monday by Canada’s Carmanah Technologies Corp (TSE:CMH), which is the owner of Schwerin-based Sabik Offshore.

The German firm has been supplying marine aids to navigation and ID marking solutions for offshore wind parks since 2008. During that time, Orga has often provided aviation obstruction products to complement Sabik Offshore’s solutions. Now, they will combine their offerings in a completely integrated system for wind farms that is designed, managed and marketed by Sabik Offshore, Carmanah explained.

Sabik Offshore offers temporary marking solutions during construction as well as permanent marking of offshore wind farms. Orga Aviation, in turn, provides lighting and marking solutions for both onshore and offshore wind farms.

Read more: German-Dutch pair to aid navigation around offshore wind farms - SeeNews Renewables