Klaas Dijkhoff, Bas Erlings and Mark Thiessen are handy PR boys who have all contributed to what the VVD is in their own way: a party that is so close to the populist, anti-democratic ideas of the PVV, that leader Yesilgöz himself no longer sees the difference.
But that time is behind them. Two weeks after the fall of the cabinet, the three, absolutely-no-political action group for our Netherlands (VON), set up, with which they fight against populism. Given the background of the gentlemen, it is very easy to be scornfully about it, so let me start immediately.
Because dear, do you mean that? Populism not good, but bad? A danger to democracy, you say? Tell us more! Oh yes, do we also see that in America and Hungary? We are shocked by that! You are probably very busy, but do you have time? You are the first with this analysis, so we relieve us. No dude, not about your own role. In any case, rather not too concrete. Certainly not about the current VVD. No, please in very general terms. This is new to us! Just to be sure, do otherwise as if we are about twelve years old and really pretty stupid. Say an level can wipe your own ass, but that that often goes wrong.
I assume you estimate the target group like that, otherwise I can This media offensive Not completely explain. It is of course very beautiful when VVD members realize that democratic values are important. Better Half turned than full, we say: welcome, welcome. But you want us to join Júllie? I also see that the entire skybox of the PSV stadium has signed your pamphlet, Including Willy van de Kerkhof and Xander de Buisonjé. That is a good start, but you really want to explain what the danger of populism is? Okay, then you have guts. Anyway, tell!
This week you argue in NRC that the “traditional political map of the Netherlands is outdated”. It is no longer about the dividing line on the left versus right, but about democratic versus anti-democratic. The problem, you think, it is in the polarization. You want to give the “mild, silent majority a megaphone,” so that they, as it were, drown out the shouts on the flanks.
Clearly. But still for a moment: if you find democratic values important, you actually only have to fear one of the two flanks, isn’t it? The Dutch Bar Association is always investigating around the elections to the legal content of the participating parties And the conclusion is quite clear. The dividing line of the Democratic values is exactly the same as the dividing line on the left versus right. You can just start with the SP, where those important values are best guaranteed, and then you go via GroenLinks/PvdA, CDA, VVD and ultimately the PVV to the right, where it is becoming increasingly worrying.
You pretend to be there in the imaginary middle, but that is not the case. Everyone to the left of yours knew for a long time that PVV’s populism was a dead end, we have been trying to get that to your mind for years. It is great that the penny has finally fallen, especially because you usually do quite well in the elections and are therefore largely in control, but when it comes to defending democracy, it is better to explain a little less and listen a little more.
Do you know who also scored well in the field of democratic values? Bij1. I will never forget how the entire VVD room was cheering on the results evening when it turned out that they were lost their seat, but let’s keep an eye on the relationships. If Sylvana Simons is the man who blocked the road for a column of tanks in 1989 on the square of Heavenly Peace, you are the tourist who takes a selfie in the same place 36 years later on Instagram with the caption ‘Stand Up for Democracy. ‘ Also very good, but different.