D66 party leader Sigrid Kaag warned in Arnhem at the start of next month’s election campaign for the Provincial Council against a strong conservative bloc in the Senate. If that happens, he says, there’s a threat of stagnation.
Kaag aims his arrows at JA21, BBB, PVV and FVD. Those right-wing populist parties are not willing to make choices, he says. When these parties come to power, “the problems get bigger and the solutions less and less visible”.
‘Mega team of Europe’
Provincial Council members elect members of the Senate in May. The threat of a large conservative bloc in the Senate is urgent and real. They will not hesitate to put the handbrake on our country. That’s what these elections are for,’ says Kaag.
According to her, the problems are not addressed if such a right-wing bloc wins many seats. This will not improve nature, the construction of new houses will slow down, no nitrogen measures will be taken and thus “the Netherlands will remain the mega stable of Europe”.
D66 will not sit on provincial councils that opt ​​for deadlock and adjustment, he reiterated. Kaag also said he hopes VVD and CDA will not cooperate in the provinces with PVV and FVD. “I trust the VVD and the CDA have learned from the past.”
BBB
D66 excludes cooperation with PVV or FVD. That doesn’t apply to the BBB and JA21, but Kaag doesn’t expect that to happen any time soon. “We don’t think that’s very plausible if you look at their campaign efforts and their statements and their voting behavior, but they’re in a completely different category than PVV and FVD.”
Paul van Meenen, the leader in the elections for the Senate, sees space at the BBB. ‘There are clear substantial differences, especially when it comes to nitrogen. But let’s be clear: we don’t need a big BBB. But if they do, then I see opportunities to at least seek cooperation in other areas.’
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
