Background nitrogen mood
CDA passes agricultural cup to D66
It's taking some getting used to for the agricultural sector: the CDA is participating in a coalition government and is missing out on the agricultural cup. There's no minister for LVVN and no state secretary for that department. And that's not all. D66, the party representing a 50% reduction in farmers, will provide the Minister of Agriculture, the cabinet's rainbow-faced helper.
For many voters outside the major cities—including those who don't farm—the CDA's choice must feel as if their trusted party has broken with its past and is even a little ashamed of it. Apologies for that time might easily follow.
Apologies may follow
Now the party that has nothing to do with farmers is allowed to do it. This is already causing unrest. Many farmers feel snubbed. The big question is who D66 will put forward. Rob Jetten has already said he doesn't want people with big egos in the cabinet, because that would be too much risk for the fledgling coalition. This also eliminates several candidates. Wageningen director Sjoukje Heimovaara, also from the party and mentioned, has declined the honor. After the BBB, D66 must now search for a candidate. There is no obvious candidate, that much is clear.
Golden boy Erkens
The VVD quickly put forward a candidate for State Secretary: Silvio Erkens. According to the daily newspaper 'De Limburger,' he's one of the VVD's "golden (career) boys." A talented individual, but not necessarily with knowledge of or proven interest in the department where he will be working.
Such a thing isn't a prerequisite for leading a department and bringing matters to a successful conclusion. A little distance can even help, but it's important to know and understand your files thoroughly. Whether that's in the cards for ministers remains to be seen.
Knowing files
Former D66 Minister of Agriculture Laurens Jan Brinkhorst wasn't always a favorite with farmers, but he was well-versed in his policies and made his own decisions. While this couldn't be said of all his predecessors and successors, it did command respect within the ministry.
The new government team, once it is complete and sworn in, will simply have to be judged on its actions. The main guiding principles for the team are the coalition agreement and the opportunities available in parliament. In a minority government, nothing happens automatically. There are no self-evident majorities.
National and provincial
An interesting question for agriculture and the countryside is how the new coalition will reconcile its plans regarding nitrogen and nature. It aims to lift the country off the nitrogen lock and implement measures at the regional level. As is well known, several provinces are already working on this. In Utrecht, the municipal executive is doing everything in its power to push through a severely restrictive policy for agriculture, using tailored reports and data. Gelderland is also working hard on its own policy for rural areas, as are South Holland and elsewhere.
Is netting possible again?
Provincial administrators also appear to be making agreements behind the scenes on matters that go beyond national coordination. They've jointly drafted new guidelines for internal balancing, even though the courts have raised serious doubts about them. And in some areas, companies are even receiving irrevocable (environmental) permits again, largely thanks to the Lely Sphere. How is that possible? And could the MOB (Mobility and Development Agency) also be taking a timeout?
Provincial executives can reportedly also close their businesses and convert them to another livestock sector without a permit. The question is how all these regional agreements fit within a national policy that still relies on the Aerius (legal) and associated standardization framework.
Who will be the new boss?
It will undoubtedly be a major undertaking for the Jetten cabinet to create a coherent and, above all, robust package. Clarity without excessive complexity is essential, as is a clear demarcation between government authority and militia behavior. The fact that an organization like MOB has been reprimanding the government for years on nitrogen issues is not only a problem for businesses but is also a mockery of government authority. Who's really in charge?
Judge in robe and private
This reprimanding is done through the judiciary. It should be independent, but is that always the case? To ask the question is to answer it, but it's actually somewhat taboo to discuss that independence. The question is why, because theory must align with practice, and that must be verifiable. For example, through the behavior of judges, even outside the courtroom. But then there's the question of whether judges are also allowed to speak out on social media and otherwise in public about topics they have to rule on in their professional lives. The judge who imposed a penalty on the Dutch government last year in a climate case brought by Greenpeace, and then did the same again last week in a case involving yet another NGO against the government regarding the climate on Bonaire, seems to be bordering on the edge with his outspoken climate sympathies. Wouldn't he have been better off not getting involved in climate cases anymore, since everyone can know his views? The same question can be asked of his colleagues who, in their private lives, use Facebook or post messages on Telegram about other subjects. Would it be a task for the Public Prosecution Service to bring more focus to this?
Officials arrange further
Meanwhile, things seem very quiet at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LVVN). The long wait for the new ministers is almost over. Civil servants are, of course, continuing to work, for example, on a new Nitrate Action Program. Something needs to be arranged with Brussels, even if there is no derogation. The big question is where the political direction lies in such a case, and will the wishes of the future ministers be addressed before the outcome of the consultations? Given the coalition agreement, it is expected that the skimming of allowances for pigs and chickens will return in the livestock sector, to name just one detail. It is also likely that the use of the Lely Sphere and the Bovaer methane inhibitor will be further stimulated. This has already been lobbied for extensively. Less high-tech, but also effective methods, such as a biochemical air scrubber with 85% reduction, have not yet attracted any major companies' support and will have to wait for a longer approval process.
Klaas van der Horst
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