Boerenbusiness Poll
Who should become Minister of Agriculture?
From 1905 to 2010, the Netherlands had a Ministry of Agriculture. In the Rutte I cabinet, this ministry was cut back and merged with Economic Affairs. According to various sources, a minister of agriculture will again take place in the Rutte III cabinet. Who do you think should be the next Agriculture Minister?
Carla Dik-Faber (Christian Union)
Carla Dik-Faber (1971) has been a member of the House of Representatives for several years now. Before that, she held a council position in Veenendaal. She was also a member of the Provincial Council of Utrecht. Dik-Faber is, among other things, agricultural spokesperson for the ChristenUnie in The Hague.
According to Dik-Faber Dutch citizens are increasingly alienated from the agricultural sector. That is why she argues in favor of structurally embedding farming in education. Dik-Faber regularly shares her vision on agriculture in various media. She believes, for example, that rent prices in the Netherlands are bizarrely high.
After Gerda Verburg (CDA), Dik-Faber could become the second 'female foreman' of Dutch agriculture.
Jaco Geurts (CDA)
Jaco Geurts (1970) is a member of parliament at the CDA and, as spokesperson, is responsible for the sectors of agriculture, fisheries and the environment, among other things. After his wedding, he went to work in pig farming, his business eventually being hit by foot-and-mouth disease. That ensured that he became a councilor at the Dutch Pig Farmers Union (NVV).
In 2006 geurts place in the city council of Barneveld. After a conversation with Annie Schreijer-Pierik, he also ended up in the House of Representatives, in the meantime he has been a Member of Parliament since 2012. Geurts himself says that he is "familiar with all aspects of the agricultural sector".
Helma Lodders (VVD)
Helma Lodders (1968) has been a member of parliament at the VVD since 2010. In addition, she is currently also spokesperson for the agriculture and pensions sectors. Since September 2014, she has also been chair of the Committee on Health, Welfare and Sport.
Before she took office in the House of Representatives, Lodders from 2002 to 2008 he was alderman for Economic Affairs in Zeewolde. She then worked until 2012 as spokesperson for Nature Policy and Labor Market Policy.
That makes her known in the political arena and therefore suitable for the position of Minister of Agriculture.
Tjeerd de Groot (D66)
Tjeerd de Groot (1968) is a member of parliament at D66 and manages the portfolio of agriculture and fisheries, nature, animal welfare and food. He made his debut in the House of Representatives this year.
The former director of the Dutch Dairy Organization (NZO) has a lot of experience in agricultural policy. In the past, for example, he was political advisor to former agriculture minister Laurens Jan Brinkhorst.
He also worked as a policy officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries. Given his affinity with agriculture and his administrative experience, De groot be seen as an outsider to the ministry.
Maurits von Martels (CDA)
Maurits von Martels (1960) is a member of the CDA. He is a spokesperson for the environment, greenhouse horticulture, biotechnology and biofuels sectors. Since 2010 he has been active as an alderman in the Dalfsen city council.
He suddenly became popular with his letter to the House of Representatives about common sense. His preferential votes brought him a seat in the House, where he gave his first speech on 17 May. Because von Martels has a good and practical view of dairy farming, he could be a good Minister of Agriculture.
Uri Rosenthal (VVD)
Maybe become a VVD member Uri Rosenthal (1945) was put forward as Minister of Agriculture. Rosenthal knows the laws of politics like no other and is a familiar face in the courtyard.
Between 2010 and 2012, he was already Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Rutte I cabinet. In recent years, Rosenthal has emerged as an ambassador for Dutch pig farming. Since 2016 he has been chairman of the Coalition Vitalization Pig Farming.
Rosenthal is by far the most experienced minister of all potential candidates.
Do you have any other suggestions? Name them in a comment below the article.
Voting on the poll is no longer possible. Suggestions are of course welcome.
This is a co-production, co-authored is Bart-Jan van Zandwijk.
Wouter Job
© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.