Interview Caroline van der Plas
'We put the countryside in place 1, 2 and 3'
Caroline van der Plas (53) is the founder and party leader of BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB), which is participating in the elections for the first time. On the party's website, the party program is not only in Dutch, but also in Frisian, Zeeuws and Low Saxon. It is clear: BBB wants to give the region a voice.
You were previously a member of the CDA. Why did you leave that party?
"Two reasons. I was on the list of the municipal elections, by the way in an ineligible place. I especially wanted to represent the agricultural vote in Deventer. The CDA went from 3 to 2 seats there, a loss of 33 percent. you have to draw conclusions, give up your place to someone else.I didn't necessarily have to be that, but for example to number 3. That didn't happen and that really disgusted me.But I didn't cancel immediately then. The decisive factor was that the Province of Overijssel put a stop to goat farming in 2018. The decisive vote came from the CDA: "We have to take public health into account", they said, but they pushed goat farming into the corner of disease. There are some indications of more lung complaints, but the RIVM has so far not found any direct link between lung problems and goat farming.was the last straw for me."
You are not alone, farmers are also disappointed in the traditional parties. How do you explain that?
"I want to keep SGP out of it. Apart from their support for the nitrogen law, which I also found disappointing, this is now the only party with a heart for agriculture. CDA and VVD say they are proud of agriculture, but they have to have also shown that with deeds. They voted in favor of the CETA trade agreement with Canada, while farmers indicated en masse that they did not want that. And with the nitrogen law. It must be removed, the foundation is not sound. Actual measurements must be taken. aviation and industry are not aware of what they emit and yet farmers have to pay for it. The nitrogen problem has been created. If you go back to the Batavians, the critical deposition values in nature reserves are still too high. It is not that farmers do not want to move or reduce A lot is already happening. Pig farming has reduced about 1990 percent ammonia and 80 percent particulate matter since 40, while agriculture and horticulture have already reduced 64 percent nitrogen.force, without any nitrogen law. Achievable policies must be made and measures that actually help. Leave this to the professionals instead of pouring everything into laws and regulations. Parties in the House of Representatives say a lot, but do very little. Not everything is wrong, by the way. Good work is also being done in the background, but these are essential points. If we say we are against trade agreements, we vote against. Then the cabinet just clap."
How does BBB differ from other parties?
"We put the countryside at 1, 2 and 3. The countryside must have just as good facilities as in the city. GP posts, public transport, smaller hospitals and nursing homes are disappearing. Someone who has lived in one place for 80 years and from Steenwijk to Zwolle has to go to a nursing home. That is terrible. Too little attention is paid to that. The most important task is food security. We don't have to feed the world, but we can help feed the world. Every farmer you take away is not just a food producer less, but also knowledge. The climate and biodiversity worldwide have not helped. How can you sell to a country in Africa that we are going to build the most fertile land in the world with data centers and solar parks? We also stand for affordable care and education that is accessible to everyone. We are in favor of an extended school day with a healthy meal. Women have a better chance of finding a job and being financially independent than already s children come home at noon."
What will we notice from you when you enter the House of Representatives?
"We are going to be a louse in the fur. First and foremost, I do not agree with the content of the Party for the Animals program, but what they do well: they have certain principles and they do not deviate from them. They have an enormous influence on the political agenda. Without them, animal welfare would never have become such a big topic. We want to do that for the countryside. That people think, just like with animal welfare: this is important. There are 8. 9 million people in the region, who deserve representation."
In the polls you are not yet getting enough votes to pass the electoral threshold. Is a vote for BBB not a lost vote?
"It is always a won vote. If you don't vote for BBB, you know for sure that the countryside is not represented. If you vote for a party that is already in the House of Representatives, you know that after the elections the countryside will be at the bottom of the With regard to the electoral threshold: polls for the 2017 elections were also wrong. It is a measurement at a certain moment. Polls are also often done online. People from the city are more likely to participate. It may be that the rural vote in the polls is underrepresented. I'm not too concerned. We hear from many people that BBB is coming out of the voting guide and that they are surprised by our program. Maurice de Hond has also said that BBB may get more votes than from the polls. polls show. We are like the dark horse, who suddenly takes the win from the back of the race. March 17 is the only real poll for us. Then people have to make the box red."
Linda van Eekeres
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