Background Nitrogen mood
'Cattle prodgate', but no tears for PAS reporter
Given the level of emotion displayed, it is a good thing that the House of Representatives does not govern directly, but that there is another government in between, which, despite all its shortcomings, still carries out this task.
The country's most important meeting location was in danger of becoming the scene of a public lynching (verbally, that is) of a BBB member of parliament this week because he said something relativizing about a cattle prod. The opposition immediately turned it into a kind of 'cattle prodgate'. Another member of parliament who called on colleagues 'not to cry along with the PAS reporters' apparently said something less serious and was able to continue unhindered.
Wolf and cattle farming
One emotion is not the same as another, but when it comes to animals, there is little reason left. This is also shown time and again when it comes to the wolf. Even in reports about wolf attacks, the truth is adjusted and it is said, for example, that children are run over, even if bystanders report something different.
This almost unbridled multiplying animal is an untouchable creature for many nature activists, which is defended tooth and nail. Perhaps also because it is at odds with livestock farming.
Still less untouchable
However, the cattle prod is not quickly banned and the wolf is given a lower protection status, but that was decided in Brussels. This happened partly at the request of SGP MEP Bert Jan Ruissen, but he did not have to fight hard to get the adjustment through. A large majority in the European Parliament sees that something has to be done. The Council of European Ministers then also voted for a lower protection status. The European Commission had already anticipated this much earlier.
Sad practice
The aforementioned PAS reporters are not yet being helped directly, but that is not due to MP Bromet (who spoke about not crying along). The current cabinet is clearly showing more commitment to helping them than the previous one. They are also working hard on a solution to the manure problem. Or better said: the will to do so is being demonstrated.
The sad reality is that the division of the pain – to give up production space – immediately degenerates into a chaotic tumbling over each other of interests. It is typical of the agricultural sector. When Minister Femke Wiersma announced her manure plans two weeks ago, there was of course also immediate criticism, especially from intensive livestock farming, because it would have to give up a disproportionate amount.
Lobby chaos
Of course, the minister quietly hopes that the buy-back schemes that were initiated under her predecessor Christianne van der Wal will yield more results than she initially expected, and that could very well be possible. Then she will have to make fewer generic cuts and skim less. In the meantime, all kinds of agricultural interests – together or alone and often against each other – are lobbying hard with members of parliament to adjust Wiersma's plans.
Holman seeks support outside coalition
NSC MP Harm Holman, who clearly has no time for intensive livestock farming, has even submitted an amendment to directly amend the law (thereby sidelining the minister) and to crack down hard on all non-land-based livestock farms. In doing so, Holman is stepping outside the coalition and is seeking support for his amendment to the law from the opposition. There is a good chance that the BBB will not accept this. Other MPs have also already indicated that they will come up with amendment proposals. The debate on 7 October therefore promises to produce some political fireworks. Of course, politics does not exist without emotion, but the (vain) hope is often that it can be done with slightly more controlled emotion.
Klaas van der Horst
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