They had seen it coming that they would grow up. But the monster victory that BBB achieved in the State elections on March 15 a year ago was still unexpected. With 11 seats, BBB became the largest party in the States. But things did not go as expected and John Frenken ended up with his faction outside the coalition. “Still, I have no regrets,” he says.
It looks out over Den Bosch. On the 22nd floor of the provincial government building, Frenken takes a moment to review it all. The astonishment on election night itself, the euphoria the morning after and yet also the worries that come with great responsibility.
“It would be a challenge, we knew that straight away.”
“A completely new faction with many people without political experience. It would be a challenge, we knew that straight away.” It was quickly clear that Frenken, with experience in the municipal council and as an alderman, would lead the faction. “You go and do that,” they said.
The monster victory came after months of protest. Not only did Dutch farmers yearn for a party that would stand up for them, Dutch citizens also supported these protests in enormous numbers. The damned ‘Christianne van de Wal map’, which showed which areas would require a significant nitrogen reduction, was the proverbial straw.
The expectations and therefore the pressure were sky high. So high that Frenken already put a breaking point on the table for the coalition negotiations before dawn the morning after the election results. The mandatory stable adjustments that Brabant had had in store for farmers for years had to be scrapped.
“The stable adjustments have played a more than important role in this”
It indeed appears to be a breaking point. Nearly three months after the elections, an agreement has been reached with VVD, GroenLinks and PvdA, but his group does not agree. The adjustments that Frenken envisions, including at that ‘breaking point’, are not accepted by his group. The negotiations still fail within sight of the port.
Frenken doesn’t want to say much more about it. “We have agreed with the other parties not to go into depth about exactly what went wrong. But the stable adjustments have played a more than important role in this.” The subject is still high on the party’s agenda. “The council has now been overtaken by reality and the date for the mandatory stable adjustments has been adjusted (again). BBB remains committed to alternatives.”
Harsh words were spoken. The VVD called BBB an ‘unreliable negotiating partner’ and GroenLinks also refused to sit down with the BBB. And things were not gentle in the faction either. The sharp edges have now disappeared again. Frenken is down to earth and he thinks that has helped him. “I think when people say terrible things to you, it says more about them than about me. And sure, there was anger. I also felt guilty that it turned out this way. But when the emotion has subsided you have to move forward again and that is what we do.”
“You have to have some wine left over.”
Now, after almost a year in the Brabant States, Frenken dares to take stock. He has no regrets. “No, I did what I thought was right at the time. As transparent as possible. And if you don’t get the results you hoped for, that’s just the way it is. It’s simple. How much water do you want to add to the wine? You have to have some wine left.”
Frenken is silent for a moment. Then he says: “It has never been the goal in itself to necessarily join the executive board. The goal is to do for Brabant what is in our program or more. There is always another way to achieve that.”
Out onto the street. That is his goal in the coming years. “Because that’s where you really hear what people need. Not at meetings in the provincial government building, where citizens have to come to you again.”
“Elderly people should not be stuck at home, locked up.”
There are plenty of plans. BBB has agreed to focus on a few themes. Public Transport is one of them. “Letting everyone live at home for longer, for example. That is only possible if you also ensure good accessibility to the small centers. That the elderly are not locked up at home. That is such a spearhead for us.”
He also knows that this takes time. But he has full confidence that BBB’s agenda will run in Brabant. “We have at least agreed on one thing. We are not a party that will kick against everything. The Brabant resident has no use for bullshit politicians at all. Consult with each other and keep the Brabant resident in mind. That’s what it’s about.”