Topic: Balkanende

The Netherlands' "Balkanende rule," which mandates that no public official or public broadcasting employee can earn more than the Prime Minister, is cited as a model for socialistic pay caps. This has led to "top talent" leaving public stations for commercial broadcasters. The hosts discuss how this experiment in pay transparency and limitation is affecting organizations like the BBC.

The Dutch coalition government led by Jan Peter Balkenende collapsed following a dispute over extending the military mission in Uruzgan, Afghanistan. The Labor Party withdrew from the coalition after the Christian Democrats suggested delaying the planned 2010 withdrawal. Under Dutch law, new elections must be held within 83 days of the government's fall.