The fact that one party is the largest of all provinces is unique, according to political journalist Sophie van Leeuwen. “I don’t think we’ve ever experienced that before,” she says. She also calls it incredibly surprising that the “stronghold of GroenLinks” Utrecht has passed into the hands of the BBB.
GroenLinks remains the largest in the city of Utrecht, as well as other cities such as Amsterdam. “But if you look at the provinces, you see that Van der Plas is the number 1 who takes the initiative to start training,” continues Van Leeuwen. ‘This is very special, but also a difficult job for her.’
Ambitious
But Van der Plas proves to be above all ambitious, according to Van Leeuwen. For example, Van der Plas reportedly expressed an ambition to hand over the president of the Senate. “Because she is the biggest party. So even the president’s chair wants to color the BBB green.’
BBB’s green advance also continues in water councils, where the party can take its place as the largest party in water council councils in eight provinces. But, Van Leeuwen points out, other parties are also doing well there. “In the water councils it’s not about a monster victory like with the provinces,” he says. “WaterNatuurlijk – a combination of GroenLinks, D66 and Volt – is doing well, and PvdA is also doing well.”
2030 or 2035?
The BBB’s election victory also puts a bombshell under the expected nitrogen deal. D66 stands by agreement to halve nitrogen in 2030, while CDA strongly disagrees. And there is irritation, notes Van Leeuwen. “There’s no panic in football and no quarrels in front of the cameras, but behind the scenes there are tough fights,” he says.
For example, Nitrogen Minister Christianne van der Wal canceled an interview with the BNR yesterday due to a long consultation with the VVD top. ‘Other parties are also scratching their heads because they don’t know what to do with the result. So it’s not going very well.’