Politics. Politicians. Democracy. Elections. Corruption. All buzz words right now, with negative connotations for many. There’s a backlash, wherever you look, from voters. People are fed up of feeling unrepresented by the people they voted to represent them. It’s not just a Brexit sentiment – it’s rife in the Netherlands at the moment too. At the national and local levels.
Recent Elections in the Netherlands
In March we voted for representatives at the provincial level (Provinciale Statenverkiezingen). (There are 12 provinces in the Netherlands).
Those elections also determine the composition of the Dutch Senate (indirectly then), where Mark Rutte’s cabinet held a majority of one seat. The Provinciale Statenverkiezingen were therefore seen as a measuring stick for Rutte’s cabinet. It didn’t fare well.
The Forum voor Democratie, FvD (Forum for Democracy) made astonishing gains. It’s clear people are done with the current state of political affairs.
A year previously the Dutch municipal elections were held. Elections for local councils, particularly in rural areas, showed an increase in voting for local parties, instead of for the traditional national parties.
Let me explain why.
Involvement in Politics at a Local Level
I used to live in the Randstad. I had no direct or indirect contact with any council members in the twelve years I lived there, aside from watching the mayor turn on the Christmas lights. I was quite honestly far removed from politics.
I now live in Gelderland, in the Achterhoek, in a rural village. Life here is very different to the Randstad. The village I live in has a group of volunteers who work together and do their damnedest to make sure the village is involved in political issues and decisions that directly and indirectly effect the quality of life here.
Our village is boxed in by provincial roads. And crossing those 80km roads on bikes and on foot is not fun (think children heading to secondary school, our kids going to football training and matches). There has been an ongoing discussion about implementing safety measures for more than a decade. To no avail.
Recently politicians made a decision.
Local Issues, Provincial Decisions
What happens on provincial roads is decided by the Provinciale Staten, which in our case is based in Arnhem. In physical distance that’s about 40km away from where I live. It’s a 35 minute drive. Not a million miles away.
However, in every other aspect the distance between politicians making the decisions in Arnhem and the villagers directly effected by these decisions is huge. Decisions have been signed off, without consulting village representatives. By the local council’s own admission, a police representative at the highest level has signed off on the plan – without ever actually setting foot on the site under discussion.
In fact, to make matters worse, every email on this topic during the past two years from the village to the local council has been met with silence. And now a decision has been made that does nothing to add to the safety of (young) cyclists or pedestrians needing to get over one of the two provincial roads.
Remember that the local council represents the local people. The assumption at the provincial level is that the local council has consulted with residents and presents local issues during the discussions. It never happened. So now the local council has agreed to a plan without consulting the people it supposedly represents
The plan is signed off as ‘agreed by all parties’. ‘All parties’ includes the local residents. An oversight? A misjudgement of local sentiment? An assumption of apathy?
Whichever it is the politicians have misjudged the mood. The local residents are fighting back. (A petition is one tool – and signatures are van hartelijk welcome).
Trees Along the N319
Here’s another example of Gelderland provincial decision making being unpopular at a local level in the Achterhoek: De bomen langs de weg kappen? De Achterhoek voelt er niets voor.
In short the provincial and local councillors want to fell 343 oak trees along the N319. 150 year old healthy trees. Because they are a danger to car drivers.
“….maar bomen vormen een risico voor mensen.” Provincie Gelderland on Twitter.
“Een burgerinitiatief tegen die ‘Arnhemse betutteling’ krijgt veel steun.”
The argument from the residents is that if everyone abides by the traffic rules then the trees are not a threat – speeding, alcohol and distraction (such as phone use) are the top three causes of deadly road accidents.
The decision has been delayed whilst further research is carried out.
Political Disconnect
At the provincial level there is already a huge political disconnect, particularly with the rural villages.
When decisions are made about you, and not with you the tide turns (you only have to look at Brexit or the issue of Scottish independence to see this on a grand scale). People get angry.
Imagine how that sentiment is magnified for decisions made by national political parties in The Hague that effect those same residents.
Over to You
Are you involved in politics in the Netherlands at any level? Does your local council hear your voice? Do you feel represented by the people you voted for?
