In Stroe, Gelderland, politics turned its back on the farmers on Wednesday. “The Hague has no self-cleaning capacity,” said Jos Ubels, director of the Farmers’ Defense Force (FDF), when the farmers’ protest started. Nevertheless, an elected group of MPs was welcomed. Member of Parliament Caroline van der Plas (BBB) was particularly praised as a heroine.
“I thought I was at Pinkpop, but I’m in Stroe and not in Landgraaf,” said Van der Plas. The politician had already arrived on Tuesday evening and spent the night in the farmer’s garden, where a demonstration was held on his property.
When the hall was full, Van der Plas barely got through the crowd. “I felt like Madonna, but not so fit and beautiful.”
His political message consisted mainly of questioning his nitrogen plans. In short, this means that nitrogen emissions must be halved by 2030 to at least prevent damage to vulnerable natural areas. “These are European guidelines from thirty years ago, but nature is changing,” says Van der Plas.
He pointed out, for example, that RIVM, which measures and maps nitrogen emissions, does not know exactly where the nitrogen emissions come from. He also wonders aloud whether government policy can do something about that.
Just before he was cheered on stage by the thousands of farmers present, Van der Plas said: “Are these measures effective? We’ll have to see,” he said.
BBB leader Caroline van der Plas addresses the farmers in Stroe.
BBB leader Caroline van der Plas addresses the farmers in Stroe.
Photographer: FATHER
High contrast to other MPs
The contrast with the D66 MP Tjeerd de Groot was great. He is seen by farmers as one of the representatives of nitrogen policy and was therefore advised by the NCTV security service not to participate in the protest. This also applies to coalition parliamentarians Thom van Campen (VVD) and Derk Boswijk (CDA). Their safety could not be guaranteed.
After the protest, De Groot said on the phone: “I have told the farmers that I understand their concerns and that the politicians have let them sit for too long. A pot of money will be fine now.” said. That is why he wants to contradict Van der Plas’ claims. “Nature has not changed, it has deteriorated. Half of the wild animals declined. This shows how unhealthy nature is.”
He also has no doubts about measuring methods. “A scientist never says that something is 100% certain, but you know more than enough.” The impact of the reduction in nitrogen emissions for De Groot therefore does not need to be discussed. “If you are very sick and smoke a lot, the doctor will at least tell you to stop smoking.”
CDA member Boswijk was present despite the safety warning. “I was already in a traffic jam,” he said. The FDF driver briefly found himself near the podium in a heated argument with Ubels.
“No one goes to The Hague,” Ubels tells Boswijk. All politicians stay where they are. This is how society derails. This is where the polarization comes from, not us,” says Ubels. “We play high society music that you didn’t do in The Hague. Just imagine.”
Boswijk finds comparison of Jews ‘unacceptable’
There is a lot of criticism about this sound, he said in an interview with FDF leader Mark van den Oever last Saturday. by Volkskrant He again compares the situation of the peasants with that of the Jews during the Second World War. “This is not true,” Boswijk later said about this statement. “As a result, the industry’s reputation will be worthless.”
Despite the warning, Boswijk did not hesitate to go. “Half of my village walks here, so to speak.” As a member of the coalition, he criticized the plans. “I think it’s a missed opportunity that you only offer this procurement arrangement, and not innovation and diffusion.”
He also found it a pity that the cabinet did not ‘feel’ that you had to take measures for industry, transport and aviation at the same time. “So you could have prevented a lot,” he said, pointing to the entire field.
The protesting farmers couldn’t hear everything, because Boswijk first had to attend a meeting at the Dutch Veterans Institute before lawmakers were allowed to take the stage.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives will debate the cabinet’s nitrogen plans.
Source: NU
Jason Jack is an experienced technology journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in computer science and engineering, he has a deep understanding of the latest technology trends and developments. He writes about a wide range of technology topics, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, software development, and cybersecurity.
