A large number of councilors in East Brabant have had to deal with intimidation or threats in the last three years due to their public activities. It concerns 40 percent of the 115 councilors who participated in a DTV News survey.
Despite feelings of insecurity, frustration and fatigue, most people want to continue. “It is frustrating, but also very important,” one of them said.
Out The research of DTV News It appears that the balance between work and private life can be an important reason for councilors to stop next year. In 2026, municipal elections will be held again.
The annoying reactions that council members are confronted mainly come in via social media, 27 percent of them report. Another part of the council members also indicated that they are threatened (17 percent): three participants gave to the victim of physical aggression.
For example, Bas van der Voort, councilor in Oss, was stalked by a confused person for some time. Members of the CDA group in the municipality of Maashorst were given fireworks.
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According to party leader Jurgen Minten, the time of reports at the clerk is over: “The next time a hard declaration will be made.” Several councilors, such as Van der Voort, are in favor of heavier penalties against people who intimidate politicians.
“The council chamber can fully flow and that can be quite intimidating.”
The atmosphere also wants to become grim from the public gallery. “For loaded subjects, the room is full of people who want to show what they think during the meetings. That can be quite intimidating,” says Mariéve Craste, councilor for D66 in Den Bosch.
Various council members therefore want security to be used when there are heavy topics on the agenda. Others think that this climate of polarization is being prevented when better explains how decisions are made. “By being honest and not always wanting to bring the popular message, we can prevent this,” writes a councilor.
“It would help a lot if the politics in The Hague were decent,” says another councilor. “Now that is not the case and there is a lot of copy behavior.”
Another striking outcome of the investigation is the high workload, as a result of the many hours that the council membership entails. And because of the consequences for private life, but also because the central government leaves many tasks to municipalities.
Yet it is not just bad and seepage. When asked whether councilors feel that their work impact Has on municipal policy, 88 percent answer ‘yes’. They mention examples of motions accepted, residents who felt heard or policy that has been adjusted by their efforts.
The question of whether council members want to be eligible for election in 2026 yields mixed responses. A total of 63 percent say ‘yes’ or ‘probably well’; Almost a fifth says ‘probably not’ or ‘no’. The rest don’t know yet.
“Political parties are eager for new members.”
Political parties will in any case have to look for new people who want to commit themselves to the local case. “They just have to call,” says VVD councilor Karin Francken in Maashorst. “Parties are eager for new members.”
About the research
At the beginning of March, DTV Nieuws sent a questionnaire to councilors of eleven municipalities in Northeast and Southeast Brabant. Of the 293 councilors, 115 local politicians responded to the questionnaire. Most responses are anonymous, but the names are known to the editors.
Response per municipality
– Bernheze: 11 of the 23 councilors (48%)
– Boekel: 4 of the 15 councilors (27%)
– Boxtel: 5 out of 23 councilors (21%)
– Den Bosch: 21 out of 39 councilors (54%)
– Gemert-Bakel: 5 of the 23 council members (22%)
– Laarbeek: 4 of the 19 council members (21%)
– Maashorst: 15 of the 31 council members (48%)
– Meierijstad: 16 out of 37 councilors (43%)
– Oss: 20 out of 37 councilors (54%)
– Sint-Michielsgestel: 3 of the 21 councilors (14%)
– Vught: 11 of the 25 councilors (44%)