Background Christianne van der Wal
Paper chatter, that's not what the nitrogen minister is about
Someone who doesn't like to 'stick and wet' and who dares to make decisions. A call round among Gelderland States members shows that with Christianne van der Wal, currently deputy van Gelderland, we will have a Minister for Nature and Nitrogen who (in addition to being pleasant to deal with) is a go-getter. Qualities that she can put to good use as a nitrogen minister.
"Whether it's about mobility or the economy, I like tackling and working together," she writes about herself on the VVD Gelderland website. VVD Gelderland describes Van der Wal in a press release, following the news that she will become a minister, as a real liberal 'power woman'. "We would have preferred to keep Christianne for the province of Gelderland," said party chairman Frederik Peters. "Because we have experienced how strongly she has acted on complex dossiers for our province in recent years. Her political and administrative talent has not remained invisible in The Hague."
According to VVD Gelderland, Van der Wal has achieved the necessary: "During the outbreak of the corona crisis, she stood up for the Gelderland entrepreneurs. They could then count on millions of euros in support from the province as part of a total package of support measures. Van der Wal has taken important steps in the realization of the extension of the A15 and the construction of the Rail Terminal Gelderland. In addition, she has committed itself to safety on the roads in Gelderland. With the arrival of Connectr in Gelderland, she has given a lasting important impulse to the development of hydrogen and green energy in our province."
In the provincial executive, Van der Wal was responsible for, among other things, the Gelderland economy, innovation and mobility. From June 2019, the politician will be one of the two Gelderland deputies. Before that she was an alderman and previously a councilor in Harderwijk. Van der Wal lives in Hierden (municipality of Harderwijk) with her husband and four children.
Little Hague experience
The incoming minister has been party chairman of the national VVD since 2017, but she has no further administrative experience in The Hague. That can be an advantage in the nitrogen dossier, where a lot has to be discussed at the provincial level, thinks Fokko Spoelstra of the PvdA (a coalition party in Gelderland). "She has no experience in The Hague in the snake pit of the House of Representatives, as I just call it, but through her work for the municipality and the province she does bring something with her if she wants to implement things in the country. not a simple one, and then it helps if you know what you can and cannot ask the provinces. And if you want to change the administrative culture, it is not surprising that you look outside The Hague."
Van der Wal is easy to deal with, says Poelstra. She tries to get people on board, but not to befriend everyone. "They won't please everyone with nitrogen either. I think that's powerful, that you dare to say 'no' anyway. That was the case with the Rhine bridge near Rhenen. That at some point you say: 'It costs a lot money and doesn't solve problems, we can't go on like this.' I appreciate that clarity." According to him, Van der Wal is a goal-oriented manager who listens to people, is enthusiastic and knows how to take action." As an example, he cites Connectr in Arnhem, an initiative that aims to accelerate the energy transition and strengthen the Gelderland economy. not someone who likes to 'stick and wet' for a long time. Something also needs to be done in the nitrogen file. But that will not be an easy task. I don't envy her. A course has to be set. How to do that with support and enough pace is no easy task. But someone has to do it, and then you can entrust her with that file. I think she brings the character to progress."
No wonder fairy with magic wand
Gerhard Bos, leader of the CDA (also coalition party) in the Provincial Council, is also positive about Van der Wal: "She knows where she wants to go and loves thorough work. That is a combination that she does with a pleasant way of dealing "An excellent driver. Nitrogen is a complicated file, everyone knows that. She is not a magician who drives to The Hague with a magic wand and solves it. But she knows how to tackle things and can look at solutions in a realistic way."
Bos would have preferred that Van der Wal had stayed in Gelderland. "It is great for her, but the task in Gelderland for mobility is also great. It is a pity that she is letting it go, but with a view to the national interest." The most characteristic of Van der Wal, according to Bos: "She is not into paper chatter. Paper should really show the solution. She is not there to look after the store and tackles things, achieves results."
'Curious what she will achieve for the Netherlands'
The nitrogen challenge is also great in Gelderland, with an extensive agricultural sector and the Veluwe as a large Natura 2000 area. Bos: "That is extremely complicated. To offer agricultural entrepreneurs sufficient prospects and to have them comply with regulations from Brussels and The Hague, that is one of the biggest tasks. I am curious what Van der Wal can do for us in nature and nitrogen – and I mean the Netherlands – will reach The Hague.”
Linda van Eekeres
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