Interview Sieta van Keimpema (BVNL)
'I am an agricultural long-distance skater'
Sieta van Keimpema (56) immediately corrects the interviewer when she is in danger of being called a veteran. "I am a long-distance skater," she responds, "and someone with a large agricultural network - national and international." Partly with the help of this, she wants to provide solutions for the current situation in agriculture and rural areas. “And everything is scientifically substantiated,” she adds.
After a long administrative career, Van Keimpema is now fighting for a seat in the House of Representatives, through the Interest of the Netherlands (BVNL).
How did you two get together? At first glance, BVNL does not seem to be the most agriculturally oriented party?
"There had been contact with - at that time - Van Haga for some time. That was at the time of the farmers' protests. From the FDF, we also looked carefully at what suits us from our points of view. We got along well with BVNL, because of the very down-to-earth way of looking at how you want to solve problems."
Where is BVNL located?
"The party is enterprising, is on the right, but is also social."
Can you explain that?
"We stand up for the interests of agriculture and SMEs, the largest job engine in the Netherlands. In the meantime, that engine is increasingly being compromised because other interests are being kept out of the wind. We want to put this right."
And the social?
"We defend pensions, stand up for healthcare and believe that work should pay. That is also social."
What do you want to change in agriculture?
"Various issues, but above all, stop the Hague chatter about problems, without concrete solutions. An example is the impasse due to the nitrogen problem. We have ideas on how we can get the permit granting going again, within the current legislation, while also reducing nitrogen We have also discussed this with lawyers from LNV, and they have confirmed that it is legally possible. All it takes is political will."
What concretely needs to be done?
"We must allocate nitrogen space to all sectors in agriculture based on the reference before July 1, 2015 (start of PAS). We must switch from the current Critical Deposition Value (KDW) to a realistic KDW, as proposed by Farmers Defense Force. The Second The House even passed a motion on this."
"We also propose to work with concrete revenue models. This is different from stimulating earning capacity. The latter means that farmers have to jump through more hoops for the same money. Our revenue model - FarmerFriendly, set up by the FDF - can really make a contribution. Farmers voluntarily become members of a cooperative through which they supply retail. A levy is then collected at the cash register on every purchase that benefits all affiliated farmers. This model is competition-proof."
How do you view the current climate and environmental debate?
"The panic stories do well in the media. Even renowned institutions participate. Take the IPCC, where a series of future scenarios have been made for the climate, including a number of non-realistic ones. These were not to be included, but in a strange way they were the most unrealistic doomsday scenario was included and even put forward as the most likely. The KNMI subsequently adopted this and assumed a temperature increase of 4,5 to 5 degrees Celsius until 2100. While the scenario of 1 to 1,5 degrees temperature increase is more logical and scientifically more widely accepted. We prefer to stick to that. The IPCC was also behind that strange equation in terms of emissions from cows and Hummers."
Do you believe that the climate is changing?
"It has been doing that for a long time. Look at the ice ages that the earth has known and the warming events in between. Human actions can also have an influence in a positive way. With greening in Africa we can do something about warming. It can have a side effect that fewer people have to leave there and therefore the migration pressure decreases."
"Politics must focus more on the big picture and, where necessary, reverse mistakes made, such as with nitrogen policy. The role of agriculture in the nitrogen problem and the deposition of pollutants in nature is greatly exaggerated. For Dutch policy on this area, reference is made to Dutch research that suits the government. Foreign research results are ignored, such as an authoritative Chinese (isotope) study that has been widely recognized. This concludes that agriculture in the EU contributes only 16%, while the rest comes from other sources such as combustion engines."
BVNL has an agricultural candidate in you. What is special about this year's election campaign is that many other parties also have agricultural candidates. It has been different before.
"That's right. I am sometimes asked why I am not on the BBB list. I do have an answer to that, but first I say: the more agricultural candidates, the better. It is urgent that there is enough dissenting voice. against what we have experienced in recent years. We must be careful with our agriculture and also with our livestock farming. People like Johan Vollenbroek would prefer to get rid of livestock farming altogether and switch to the cultivation of protein crops, but if you do that, Even if you fall below the limit of 41% grassland, agriculture no longer receives CAP support. Then even less money goes to the countryside."
City dwellers may not care about that.
"They don't realize that you cannot grow all crops here. Grassland is also part of the Netherlands and is important for nature and landscape. And when vegans say: We still want to get rid of livestock farming, then I say: In that case, no imports either. more of tropical fruit and other food from far away!"
"It is also good to consider the consequences of the Green Deal, as set up by Frans Timmermans. If this program is followed, 30% more food imports will be needed in the EU, researchers have determined. The World Food Organization FAO warns against it."
If people want less radical changes, how is it possible that a different voice always dominates?
"The media are predominantly Randstad-based and do not delve deeper. The same thing happens in the House of Representatives. The region is also poorly represented there. MPs sometimes try to mask this by moving back to the province from the Randstad. I see that, among other things. in the province where I live."
Does BVNL have its own forecast for the number of parliamentary seats?
"How many voters we get also depends on the attention given to us. Many pollsters do not include BVNL in their polls. That is very disturbing, but it does not stop me. I have been in advocacy for a long time, with a very large network and can therefore mean a lot for agriculture and the countryside."
How do you, as a Member of Parliament, prevent yourself from being sucked into the game in The Hague?
"I have decided to do it the same as in Great Britain and want to hold a drop-in evening in the province at least once a month. I think approachability is very important. Moreover, the FDF board members keep me on track."
Do you expect that a completely different wind will blow in The Hague after November 22?
"I don't see that reflected in the polls yet. Parties like the VVD still receive a lot of support, although the VVD has only caused crises. In addition, the top 15 of the new list of candidates are already in the House of Representatives, while they is part of the problem. Apparently the Netherlands does not want a solution. I don't expect anything good from the GroenLinks-PvdA combination either. If they get their way with a matter like the Nature Restoration Act, you won't be allowed to pick a bunch of daisies from the roadside here. In this In this context, I would like to mention the European Charter. This stipulates that citizens may enjoy unlimited rights to their property. In the Netherlands, this is being flouted in all kinds of new legislation. The problem with this is that we are not allowed to test laws against the Constitution here, which is not the case elsewhere. usually possible."
You want to remain involved with the FDF and other organizations with which you are connected. They often express a strong opinion.
"People may not always agree with us, but in terms of vision we have always been right. Our principles are correct, and have always been so."
A subsequent question passes a campaign video that we saw, with you in an armored car. Can you tell us what that stands for?
"The observant viewer has long since put the two things together: vehicle and music, and has seen that both are 100% FDF and BVNL. The vehicle is an Armored Repair Vehicle. A vehicle that comes to the aid of fighters with damaged vehicles in enemy territory and can defend itself while doing so. Exactly the way in which FDF works and the reason for which FDF was founded: to help its fighters who are threatened. This also fits BVNL: a defense vehicle that is certainly necessary to repair the country broken by 13 years of Rutte policy! The music is by Lindemann. Till Lindemann, also the singer of Rammstein, was accused of seriously inappropriate sexual behavior last summer, but before the case was investigated by the judiciary, he was harshly condemned and ostracized by the media! A true witch hunt. After investigation by the judiciary, there appeared to be no legal basis for the allegations. Nothing remains of it except framing and character assassination by the media. Exactly what FDF also experiences: accused by the media of arson, violence, threats: in court, nothing remains of all the accusations against FDF. BVNL also has to deal with false media reports, framing, and trolls. We stand for the restoration of the rule of law and trust in each other: a safe society with legal certainty in freedom. Both - vehicle and music - were therefore chosen appropriately. Heavy artillery is really necessary to repair the damage caused by Rutte 1, 2, 3 and 4."
Klaas van der Horst
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