Interview Eline Vedder (CDA)
'Make the farmer in charge of his own farm again'
She did not win a seat in the previous House of Representatives elections, although she did have more than 9.300 preferential votes. In May, Eline Vedder (44), dairy farmer from Ruinerwold, was picked from the Provincial Council of Drenthe to take a seat in the Chamber, where Jaco Geurts left a seat. She is now on the CDA list directly behind party leader Henri Bontebal. In a series of interviews by Boerenbusiness with intended agricultural spokespersons from various parties, this relative newcomer in parliament will first have the floor.
In the previous parliamentary elections you were in 23rd place, now in 2nd place. What signal does the CDA want to send with this?
"There were people around me who said they thought I would be high on the list, but I was still taken aback by it. I see it as an important signal that the CDA takes agriculture and the region seriously. I really see it as a responsibility for myself."
You have been in parliament since May 10. How are you doing in the Chamber?
"I like it very much. The CDA faction is a nice and pleasant team, in which you are given the space to commit to things that you think are good. There are also things that I like less. For example, enormous lack of knowledge about agricultural topics. And the hardening between the parties is even worse than hoped. While in the Provincial Council it is very self-evident to work together constructively if you have the same opinion, in The Hague the political The game is often made more important than the content. I do try to keep looking for that connection."
As a public figure, you have also been exposed to off-the-cuff insults on social media. How do you deal with that?
"I know from Twitter that every now and then you end up in a kind of troll army and you are flooded with filth. But I know that is not a reflection of society, it is not representative of the people on the street. I sometimes worry causing people to drop out from becoming politically active, from becoming a volunteer or from being a referee at the local football club. That is the sad side of social media. To everyone involved, I would like to say: You are not the only one. And: Hang in there!"
In the election manifesto you argue for a strong agricultural sector. What should it look like?
"The most important thing for me is that we do much more justice to craftsmanship, moving away from resource regulations to goal regulations and substance balance. That the farmer can again do things that are really necessary and that make sense. Now we are busy half the time with things we have to do. We are not on the climate denier side, but you do have to give farmers tools. Make the farmer boss of his own property again. Now everything is boarded up with a swamp of regulations. It drives farmers crazy themselves, at least I do. Nature cannot be captured in mathematical models. In addition to calendar farming, as far as we are concerned, the KDW will also disappear. It would be much more logical to look at nature reserves to find out what is needed there and to tailor the measures accordingly. And there are many more factors than just nitrogen."
During a debate on manure policy in Parliament, you recently said that it is a thorn in your side 'that we have really missed opportunities in the 7th action program'. You were there yourself, weren't you?
"We did put forward some things, but apparently no majority could be obtained at the time. In any case, I am not satisfied with it, it could have been better. I hope that in the 8e AP is really taking a step forward. I do have the feeling that other people are also starting to realize that when we talk about potatoes, for example, it is not a good idea that we have to dig them up because on average it is a correct date."
If you look at the past few years, hasn't CDA yielded too much to the coalition partners?
"I don't think we have pushed back enough in any case. That hardening was also there in the coalition. It is very unfortunate that it also has an impact in the real world, where real people are saddled with real problems."
You want chain parties such as supermarkets and banks to contribute to making the agricultural sector more sustainable. What contribution should they make?
"At the moment, a lot of sustainability is expected from farmers, but it is difficult to recoup this from the domestic and especially foreign market. To be honest, I am a bit fed up with large supermarket buyers always taking a back seat during negotiations and taking a bit of a dive. You cannot place all responsibility solely on the farmer's plate and expect things that are not realistic. If we want to achieve the goals, more must be paid and long-term agreements must be concluded. Not unlike AH's free-range meat concept. half a year ago, we've been pulling the plug on all that nonsense. And not everyone sets demands and happily imports them on the other hand. We have to make agreements about which basis of sustainability will be on the shelves, as happens with chicken meat. In addition, there must be room for farmers to be able to unite become much bigger."
The CDA also believes that sufficient land should remain available for agriculture and horticulture. How do you want to guarantee this?
"It is worrying that there are all kinds of objectives in the field of energy transition, but not, for example, for what the area of agricultural land should be. Agricultural land must be given some kind of protected status. That it will not become a nature reserve or large fields of solar panels will be built, but that the position is honored."
You also mention the farmer's revenue model. How should this be guaranteed?
"As far as we are concerned, that should be a menu. Many farmers do not want to be dependent on the government, and I would not want that anytime soon, but suppose there are opportunities in an area to expand towards nature-inclusive or long-term nature management... It everything must be much more long-term so that you can build on it and it must suit you as a person and company. I do not have the ideal image of forcing the entire sector to be nature-inclusive or a niche. Farmers must also be able to earn a living on the global market. Space is important for entrepreneurs."
Will the wind from Brussels blow a little differently now that Frans Timmermans has left there?
"I must say that you are already noticing that. Others are given more space, the discussion is changing. You see that around glyphosate or the wolf. As far as we are concerned, there is no place for the wolf in the Netherlands and the protected status should at least be are being scaled down. The panels are shifting in Europe towards a bit more realism. The other side is that we are now getting him (Timmermans ed.) back in the Netherlands."
In the 2021 House of Representatives elections, the CDA won 15 seats. In the latest polls there are at most six. You have also lost many of the farmer supporters. Why would an agricultural entrepreneur vote for the CDA?
"In a nutshell: the CDA is a party that does not deny that steps need to be taken, but in contrast to the left-wing side that does not want to throw money at the farmer's plate, but really wants to look for solutions. That's where we put with CDA. Dismissing the nitrogen file as a 'nitrogen administration problem' sounds good, but that doesn't get you anywhere. That doesn't make the problem go away. Then there are still PAS reporters or young farmers who don't get a permit or don't get a permit. green light from the bank for a takeover. You need perspective again. We have a high priority in the election program to legalize PAS detectors. It is distressing that farmers still do not have a permit through no fault of their own. Schouten mentioned it in the had the law laid down and solemnly promised. The fact that Schiphol now has a nature permit makes me freak out internally. That is exactly what I was afraid of, that people with the deepest pockets can buy the most nitrogen space. Legally everything is allowed, but morally it is not acceptable."
"The perspective for the young farmer is also important, for example the business takeover scheme. There are parties that want to skimp on this, but we are not going to do that. It is important that permits are again issued to young farmers and that banks do not assess financing applications based on that disgusting nitrogen card from Van der Wal, but based on reality."
Do you want to join the government, or do you see more of a role in the opposition?
"That depends on the outcome of the elections. I would find it illogical if you were to say in advance: we are going for a coalition. If you look at the polls, that is not obvious. I think the content is important. We have a very good story in which I believe and want to continue to build."
At home you have 75 dairy cows. Do you still have time for the farm?
"I'm afraid not. At the weekend I might be on the tractor or helping with the cows. We now have help with milking in the evening. I also notice that the cows recognize me less, especially when I walk in my nice clothes." She laughs: "As long as my children recognize me."
Linda van Eekeres
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