Today, the House of Representatives will examine for the first time the final report of the parliamentary committee of inquiry into gas drilling in Groningen, published in February. The stark conclusion from this is that Groningen has been seen as a marginal region for too long and that the interests of the residents have been structurally ignored for decades.
And so there’s a lot of criticism across the House. Not only about Prime Minister Mark Rutte, under whose eyes everything happened, but also about his own role, political journalist Leendert Beekman knows. According to him, the debate can be seen as “the beginning” of the cornerstone of the Groningen dossier. “If it was a final piece, they would be jumping for joy in Groningen,” he says. “But it will take some time.”
After all, the government has not yet officially responded to the “Groninger over gas” report. The letter to the House isn’t expected until May, after which a debate will most likely be scheduled, Beekman thinks. “What has become clear today is that the House shares the committee’s conclusion.”
To trust
Today’s debate with the parliamentary committee of inquiry focused mainly on confidence in politics following the report. Coert Fossen of the Groninger Soil Movement (GBB): ‘A lot of nice words were said during the debate, but in the end action will be taken. Like Groninger we have to wait again.’
“Fine words have been said, but in the end we will move on to deeds”
She hopes there will be clarity for the people of Groningen before the summer, although her colleague Merel Jonkheid points out that they are not just waiting for a response from the poll report. “They waited for ten years because the problems didn’t go away for a long time.”
Measures
Jonkheid thinks it’s important that the foundations are in order, because it’s still “a big mess” at the moment. The GBB, for example, says that the gas tap in Groningen will be completely closed on October 1, 2023, “because then we know for sure that the problems in Groningen will stop in the long run,” he says. ‘Even if the gas tap is closed, there will be earthquakes, but they will decrease. This is really important.’
Fossen adds: “Damage – for which people still have to fight a lot to get compensation – must be dealt with quickly, energetically and generously.” He points out that the situation has been talked about ‘generously’ for years, but that in the end nothing happens.
Engagements
Political journalist Beekman points out that the opposition is already making promises “to resolve the debt of honor in this way”, but that the coalition parties continue to mainly bet on the government’s response. “And therefore also the debate with the prime minister,” explains Beekman. “There is danger in that too.”
He refers to the reaction of Independent MP Pieter Omtzigt, who expects the government itself to come to the conclusion in that debate that “the system” has failed, and therefore everyone. Accordingly, “everyone should do their best.” Beekman: ‘This fear is widely shared. When there is no main culprit and everyone is blaming each other, the question is whether anyone will take responsibility and if anything will really change.’
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.
