The radical farmers’ action group Farmers Defense Force (FDF) sent bailiffs to the homes of members of parliament from coalition parties in North Brabant on Thursday. Report that Omroep Brabant and news agency ANP. Members of Parliament from VVD and D66 call the action “intimidating” and “bizarre”.
According to FDF leader Mark van den Oever, the action is part of a demonstration that will take place on Friday at a meeting of the Provincial Council. During that meeting, a new nitrogen approach will be voted on in the province. According to Van den Oever, a bailiff handed over a letter with an “admonition” to “the entire coalition”. It calls on the members of Parliament to “think carefully”.
VVD faction leader Roel Gbraken informed the ANP that he received the letter at 8 a.m. in the morning, just like the rest of his group. He calls the action “totally intimidating” and believes that it has gone “beyond all bounds”.
Statement against action
The bailiff also rang the doorbell of D66 faction leader Matthijs van Miltenburg. He calls it ethically and morally reprehensible and emphasizes that FDF is trying to put pressure on Members of Parliament to vote against stricter nitrogen measures. According to him, the letter indicated that if they agreed on Friday, “it would constitute a criminal offense.” “It is bizarre that politicians have to deal with this,” Van Miltenburg also said.
The D66 members and the VVD members have announced that they will draw up a statement against the action together with all other factions. King’s Commissioner Ina Adema will probably release it on Friday morning. On Thursday evening, the party leaders held an additional meeting behind closed doors following the action.
It is not the first time that politicians have had to deal with intimidation regionally or locally. At the end of November, administrators in Limburg protested with an advertisement against the threats and intimidation they receive. “We are completely done with it!” the letter said.
Also read
‘Limburg draws a line’: Emile Roemer and other directors place an advertisement against intimidation
NEW: Give this item as a gift
As an NRC subscriber you can subscribe every month 10 items give as a gift to someone without an NRC subscription. The recipient can read the article directly, without a paywall.
The journalistic principles of NRC