The conservative liberal election program of the newly founded party JA21 deviates somewhat from the sound of Thierry Baudet's Forum regarding the agricultural dossier. It is a program without an unhealthy penchant for the extreme, writes the chairman of the program committee Nicky Pouw-Verweij in the foreword.
Party leader Joost Eerdmans writes in today's 75 page document: "Our program is a realistic conservative liberal course for everyone who wants to put their shoulders to the wheel in the Netherlands. Positive choices for a more prosperous, safer and more recognizable country in which we tackle crime hard, retain what binds us and take power back from Europe."
Next step too far
Contrary to the Nexit message from Geert Wilders (PVV) and Thierry Baudet (FvD), the JA21 party, for which Jan Cees Vogelaar is candidate for position 7, advocates a slightly more moderate European course. The new party that emerged from the FvD stands for a slimmed-down European Union with a focus on economic cooperation. Instead of concentrating power in the EU, the course should be shifted towards a looser Community of European States in which sovereignty is preserved. The market must be able to operate within socially accepted frameworks, without coercion by EU regulations and control that imposes agricultural systems devised by bureaucrats.
At the same time, JA21 emphasizes the importance of intensive trade policy. The Netherlands benefits from a strong and committed foreign policy. With countries in the EU, with which there is close cooperation, but also with the United States and the United Kingdom, with which the Netherlands maintains close ties. And with trading partners worldwide and countries with which the Netherlands works together to strengthen their economy and democracy.
Contrast between environment and climate?
As far as climate policy is concerned, JA21 is just as radical as the PVV and FvD. Climate adaptation is the credo, rather than a fruitless battle against the climate itself. Measures against flooding, protection against flooding, drought and heat and arranging spatial planning for climate adaptation require billions of euros in investments. Adjustment of climate policy is required to move in this direction, argues JA21. By further increasing its adaptability, the Netherlands is even better able to deal with warming or cooling. Thanks to this radical change of course, the money for adaptation to the climate (climate adaptation) is usefully spent for research and innovation in our knowledge economy. And no longer wasted on subsidies for too expensive and inefficient energy sources.
JA21
Decoupling climate and energy removes the heavy mortgage on nature and landscape caused by windmills and rapidly expanding solar fields, according to JA21. Wind turbines and solar fields must be dismantled after their economic life of 15 to 20 years, with the site on which they are installed being returned to its original condition with its original purpose. This decoupling is of great importance, describes the election program of JA21. Because the green living environment contributes to mental and physical well-being.
Good care for nature and landscape is crucial. That is why the brand new party advocates close cooperation between all current users of the landscape, from agricultural entrepreneurs to nature managers, because there is a common duty to protect. It is recognized that a tension can exist between agricultural land and nature, and between agricultural interests and those of the nature manager. JA21 argues for balance: careful handling of the landscape without opting unilaterally for activist partial interests.
The party of the Rotterdam party leader Joost Eerdmans notes that the environmental quality has improved greatly in 50 years and would like to keep it that way. JA21 is in favor of continuing a strict environmental policy: air, water and soil must remain clean and healthy.
Against growing municipalities
Another striking part of the election program that affects the agricultural sector: JA21 is against the continuous increase in scale of municipalities, while precisely the so-called first government should be close to its own inhabitants. Increase in scale affects the individuality of communities that want to recognize themselves in their municipality. Forced merging of municipalities must come to an end. Municipalities should be given more room to make their own choices in the areas they deal with, even if this leads to differences between municipalities. JA21 is for the introduction of an elected mayor, which necessitates a review of the way a municipality is governed and contributes to increasing the influence and involvement of the inhabitants.
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