According to Forum for Democracy, it is not party policy that candidates who have received a council seat with preferential votes are not allowed to enter the council. This was requested in a number of municipalities, including Hoogeveen.
A party spokesperson names eleven municipalities where candidates with preferential votes entered the council. The candidates in Hoogeveen were elected with preferential votes, but said they were pressured to give up their seats to people higher on the list.
“This is not a general line, but tailor-made based on the concrete situation,” said the spokesperson for the national FVD. “We have made such a request in a few cases. This is always based on the circumstances of the specific case and the agreements made in advance with candidates.”
According to the party, a number of people who now want to take their council seat were people who were on the electoral list at their own request and had indicated that they did not want to join the municipal council. “In those specific cases, we have requested that the original, carefully compiled list order be maintained.”
The councilors elected with preferential votes in Hoogeveen, Harald Knegt and Rolinka Klooster, had complained in a spicy letter and indicated that they still wanted to join the council, if necessary under their own flag. According to party leader Vincent Vos, that letter was later withdrawn, but whether or not the two councilors will enter the Hoogeveen council under the banner of FVD remains unclear.
“We regret that in a number of cases it was decided to immediately include seats won under the banner of Forum for Democracy,” the spokesperson said. The party enters the municipal council in 104 municipalities.
