A wonderful marriage has been forged at the Rotterdam city hall: Think and Liveable Rotterdam, with VVD and D66 as much needed lubricant. We saw liveable, D66 and VVD coming. After all, only in the richer parts of the city were people still willing to go to the voting booth. And the entire periphery of Rotterdam invariably votes Liveable. But the fact that more than a hundred minorities in Denk districts, where the turnout is minimal, nevertheless help one party into the saddle, is nothing less than a triumph.
The whole of the Netherlands should pay close attention to this new Rotterdam alliance. If only because, with the current inflation and structural immigration, the Netherlands is starting to resemble Rotterdam more and more. Moreover, everything happens first in Rotterdam: from the collapse of the PvdA to the rise of the populist right. This could just be the political future in more places.
Anyone who looks at the election programs did not see this coming. Leefbaar does not call Think literally when the party warns against political Islam. livable-prominent Tanya Hoogwerf has publicly resonated with Denk politicians several times. And which party would Denk mean when she turned in a previous program complained about populist parties that ‘turn Rotterdammers against each other’ with their divisive rhetoric?
Livebar’s most important priority, safety, is only discussed in the Think Party program in the eighth paragraph of the eighth chapter (‘economy’) – as hardly a must-have gadget for good entrepreneurship in the city. And I hope that both sides leave the education to the schools themselves, because in the quest about which slavery and migration histories, discriminatory stereotypes or woke indoctrination should be taught, the gentlemen politicians would sooner tear the schoolbooks apart than on the admit others.
If we keep our waffle in Rotterdam for a while, this college can show some decisiveness
And yet they sit shoulder to shoulder in college. The atmosphere during the negotiations was reportedly good – mutual trust was evident from the lack of leaked plans. If the school books would remain closed, we would let the past rest and we would just have our waffles in the Rotterdam way, then this college could well show some stability and decisiveness.
It turns out that anti-discrimination and anti-racism is quite acceptable for many Rotterdammers, as long as it does not come from white cis-gender vegan people with a uterus. And Think’s second priority, poverty alleviation, is rapidly becoming Leefbaar’s priority as well – thanks to the current energy crisis and inflation. Moreover, the supporters of both parties found each other in their frustration about the traffic jam in the city, caused by GroenLinksige runway closures and parking offers.
Again, I, a highly educated wealthy Rotterdammer, also dream of the green paradise that they wanted to make of this city. But I also trust that an important part of that transition has already been set in motion. The climate train runs, especially nationally and internationally. Well, the women got away with it. Roos and Christine had to give way, we got Faouzi, Enes and Said in return in a lecture led by Ahmed. Which first name is a bigger stumbling block when applying for a job?
Also read: A lecture with Liveable and Think can reduce polarization in Rotterdam
This administration will not be everything to everyone. But I’m quite excited about this covenant. It is a victory for representation and trust. There are roughly three voter groups in this city: poor left, poor right and rich. This college unites all three.
If everyone behaves and no one slips about stupid corruption or transgression, this college could set an example for the rest of the country. It is of the utmost importance that citizens feel seen and heard in the town halls of this country. Not by an alderman who goes on an expedition into the (problem) neighbourhood, but by an alderman who has actually been elected by the residents of the neighbourhood.
Maybe next time more people will show up at the polling station.
Rosanne Hertzberger is a microbiologist.
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of 11 June 2022