THE HAGUE, 19/09/00 - The socialist party (SP) has made use of its own Maxima Zorreguieta to voice its complaints against the present Cabinet policy. In the alternative Queen's speech made by 'Maxima' a day before the official one on Princes Day, the SP yesterday insisted that the Netherlands is not doing all that well at all.

In spite of the mood of jubilance due to a budget surplus and billion-guilder windfalls, the SP pointed out the problems in education and the healthcare sector. There are personnel shortages, long waiting lists and a poor level of service, the party claimed.

The SP produces an alternative Queen's speech each year. Maxima Zorreguieta is Crown Prince Willem-Alexander's girlfriend. An audience of about seventy people, including MPs for the SP, listened to the speech by 'Maxima' yesterday in a square opposite the parliament building (Binnenhof).

There was loud applause for the criticism of the construction of the Betuwe line, cutbacks in the public sector and the lack of attention for the environment.