The BBB has 9 seats in the province of Zeeland. Where other successful newcomers like Lijst Pim Fortuyn and Forum voor Democratie have had trouble forming, Govaert doesn’t expect this to be a problem. “I know the other parliamentarians of my party well. We are a getaway party and had to organize a lot.’ That also includes campaigning, according to Govaert. “Then they try to help each other and that naturally creates a very close-knit team.”
Busy
While they don’t feel too much pressure at the BoerBurgerBeweging’s Zeeland branch, they are well aware that they have to work. “The voter spoke and elected us. We are of common sense and logical thinking.’
When a coalition is formed, it can get quite chaotic with parties having completely different ideas on how the province should be governed. PvdA/GroenLinks is the second party in the province with 6 seats. ‘We will look at content where we can agree with various parties. Of course, every party has an argument it wants to support.’
Unclear period
Govaert has trouble saying when there will be a coalition in Zeeland. ‘I’m doing this for the first time. But we will try not to let too much time pass. No one is immersed in that. While it shouldn’t go too fast, obviously, clutter should be avoided.’
The province of Zeeland has traditionally been a CDA stronghold, but that party lost 2 seats in this election. The BBB entered the province with 9 seats. Yesterday the parties started forming through a debate in the provincial government of Zeeland with all party leaders having to form a coalition.