Four news reports on law, fraud, economy, and Ukraine (Wednesday, March 25)

The appeal against Ali B has started at the court of appeals in Amsterdam. Ali B was sentenced to two years in prison in 2024 for rape and an attempt. He claims to be innocent, and the Public Prosecution Service wants more convictions.

In Gorinchem, there were already signs of possible vote fraud before the municipal elections. Mayor Melissant said that people were pressured at home and over the phone to give a proxy. After the elections, more suspicions emerged, and now the police and the Public Prosecution Service are investigating the case.

The war in the Middle East is also affecting the Dutch economy, says De Nederlandsche Bank (the Dutch central bank). The bank expects at least 3 percent inflation and almost no growth this year and next. In the northern Netherlands, companies are facing higher costs and transportation problems.

A majority in the House of Representatives wants to keep attention on Ukraine. Parties asked why the Netherlands is giving 3.4 billion euros this year, compared to over 6 billion last year. Jetten expects Hungary to stop blocking 90 billion euros next month.