Political journalist Leendert Beekman sees this too, even if he dares to say that the VVD has a history of tackling this problem. ‘And this is necessary, because in the latest I&O Research poll the VVD loses 12 seats,’ says Beekman. ‘Rutte said on Saturday that the VVD is a party that always dares to take responsibility, even in difficult and difficult times, and does not shy away from that responsibility. Furthermore, they continue to oppose populism.’
Rutte therefore showed himself to be combative with respect to his expectations for the provincial council elections. He told Beekman, among other things, that this election will show whether the country “continues to be properly governed in a decent way” and that this is only possible “if parties like the VVD come out strong in elections in the States and in the House”.
‘on the track’
“He particularly stressed that the VVD wants to keep the Netherlands ‘on track’,” continues Beekman. ‘And with that also the interest of the Senate, in which the current cabinet lacks a majority. And the country must – in Rutte’s eyes – remain manageable with the VVD.’
But whether Rutte’s story is strong enough to win back the 12 seats it lost in the poll, Beekman doesn’t dare say. ‘There are many criticisms, especially of the youth organization JOVD. They just want more vision from the prime minister and the party, especially in the field of nitrogen.’
The JOVD receives the support, among others, of the MEP Jeannette Baljeu from South Holland, who has the nitrogen dossier on her plate. ‘As far as we are concerned, these are the issues of the province: housing, nitrogen and nature. (…). And if you now look at what issues are brought to us by the government, then the provinces really matter. And we really want to show that we can do it,” Baljeu told Beekman.
Fear
According to Beekman, however, the tone of the behind-the-scenes conversations is different. It’s very scary there, he says. ‘The fear is that these are not the big problems the Netherlands are facing now. The province is responsible for spatial planning and all the problems we currently have – nitrogen, the housing crisis, energy transition, infrastructure – are directly involved in this. But people are afraid that the election will only be about who will be the greatest and whether Rutte IV will be addressed.’
‘Referendum’
Because that’s how many opposition parties see parliamentary elections, according to Beekman. Like an opportunity. ‘The fear is that they will use the election to hold some sort of referendum on Rutte IV and whether the cabinet can be kept in power. This makes it yet another national election in disguise,’ says Beekman. ‘Where we will also see national politicians talking about national solutions and problems in The Hague. And this while provincial politics can finally concern matters that concern the province».