VVD and CDA fear voters, but also support ‘inevitable’ nitrogen target

Politicians from the ruling VVD and CDA parties meet disgruntled supporters who do everything they can to underline the agreed “inevitable” nitrogen targets. An almost impossible split. Today, the House of Representatives will discuss the cabinet’s proposals. nitrogen shots.

His balancing skills came into their own with VVD agricultural spokesman Thom van Campen.

He could have “started” with the party’s proposed move to adjust nitrogen policy, but he drew a “line” where nitrogen measures were questioned.

Van Campen said he understands the “emergency situations” very well, but at the VVD congress two weeks ago he advised the VVD group not to take that position.

It seemed an impossible combination: standing firmly behind cabinet policy and at the same time empathizing with the call for major change.

CDA also struggles with moneylenders and cabinet plans

The same struggle was observed at the CDA. The weekend after the nitrogen plans were sent to the House of Representatives, it became clear that the party was revolting internally.

“We understand that we have to achieve these nitrogen targets and we understand that drastic measures are needed,” CDA party chairman Pieter Heerma said on Monday. said. After all, it was not surprising that his party signed the “inevitable approach to nature improvement” in the coalition agreement.

“But”, Heerma continued, “the way must also be possible in other ways.” The CDA member of parliament missed “important elements” in the plans that, according to him, had to be adjusted “on a few points”.

Here too, a ruling party initially criticized its own plans, but did not question the ultimate goal. Heerma was very clear about that too. “There will be a reduction in cattle numbers because that’s part of the reduction in nitrogen.”

Plans already offer room for your own comments

The area that both sides seem to be seeking here is already in the company’s plans. Objectives have been formulated for each zone based on the amount of nitrogen that must be reduced. It is up to the provinces to put these goals into action.

The message from Minister Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen) is that they themselves have a certain freedom, as long as there is “the possibility to take concrete measures within a year”. Otherwise it will interfere.

The RIVM, which maps percentages of how much nitrogen and where to reduce, was clear about this during a technical briefing to lawmakers this week. If you reduce less nitrogen in one place, you have to do more in another.

You cannot draw firm conclusions with this map, said RIVM employees. There are guiding goals.

Van der Wal continues to score

The government is clear about the ultimate goal: 50% less nitrogen emissions in 2030 compared to 2018. This means that three quarters of the Dutch nitrogen-sensitive nature areas must remain below the critical limit value in order to prevent further damage to nature. †

Despite the unrest of his party and the intimidation of farmers who came to visit him at home, Van der Wal, himself from the VVD household, was not mistaken that these goals would remain intact.

Suddenly the cabinet comes with the “painful observation” that a certain number of farmers will have to stop. This will be especially the case in the vicinity of protected natural areas where nitrogen emissions must be reduced by 70% to 95%. Van der Wal’s clear message is: “Everything cannot be everywhere and can no longer be the same”.

Nitrogen targets are not up for discussion, today’s discussion is mainly about increasing polarization through protests and measures. For safety reasons, some lawmakers have been advised not to attend the farmers’ protest in Stroe on Wednesday.

The fire was already burning. “The Dutch state is at war with the peasant republic”, says Bart Kemp, foreman of Agractie.

ChristenUnie leader Gert-Jan Segers fears a civil war, but in a “civilized way”.

It will become clear whether this war language will infiltrate the House of Representatives.

Source: NU

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