Johan Baltes and Roelie Goettsch set to work as formateurs in Drenthe. Both have experience in the Provincial Council of Drenthe. VVD member Baltes was vice-chairman, PvdA member Goettsch was party chairman.
The two will work with the parties to draw up a coalition agreement in outline and to form a new board. They are taking over from scout Astrid Nienhuis. She proposes to form a coalition of BBB, PvdA, VVD and CDA.
Gert-Jan Schuinder, chairman of the BoerBurgerBeweging, has sought a balance with the formation partners between small steps in training his group and the big steps needed to form a coalition. “Everything is new, so a careful process is necessary. At the same time, there are complicated files and expectations are high. That’s why we opt for two experienced formateurs.”
Johan Baltes from Emmen is a former member and vice-chairman of the Provincial Council in Drenthe. He was previously involved in the formation in the municipality of Assen and active as an informant for the business council of the municipality of Hoogeveen.
Roelie Goettsch from Assen is a former member and former party leader of the PvdA in the Provincial Council and was active as a councilor in the municipality of Central Drenthe. She has been chair of PvdA department Drenthe since June last year and was an informant after the parliamentary elections in Drenthe in 2019.
In the provincial elections BBB became the largest party with seventeen seats, just short of being the largest new entrant ever in Drenthe. The PvdA, VVD and CDA all lost seats. Together, the parties have 28 seats. 22 seats are needed for a majority.