The coalition in the municipality of Midden-Drenthe has finally fallen. Alderman Rico Schans steps up after his party Bbbondenmate municipal interests last night said he had no confidence in further cooperation in the coalition.
A conversation this morning between the parties involved was to no avail. Schans gets up immediately. “An unworkable situation has arisen because of the events,” said Schans. “In the interest of the municipality, I have therefore decided to lay down my position as an alderman immediately.”
The reason for the final break is a petition of Gemeentebelangen Bbondenaten-councilor Hetty Meijering and independent Midden-Drenthe councilor Niels Virgin. They wanted to postpone the millions of renovation of the town hall. This resulted in resistance from coalition parties CDA and PvdA, among others.
Gemeentebelangen Bbbondenmate party chairman Jannes Kerssies responded to this by saying that he does not see any further form of cooperation. “I have seen a lot of bitterness with councilors tonight, I have never experienced that. I feel that respect for us is completely gone and I see fractions that, so to speak, can drink the blood of our Hetty,” said Kerssies.
“The collaboration ran out for a longer period of time,” says GroenLinks-PvdA in a statement. GroenLinks-PvdA was in the coalition with Municipal Interests Bbondenmate and the CDA.
“We do not want to be delayed and will look for a new majority and a stable coalition in the interest of the residents of Midden-Drenthe as quickly as possible. We would like the new college to come up with a concrete proposal for the renovation of the town hall as quickly as possible. A proposal that as many residents as possible can support.”
Sandra Korthuis (VVD) from Witteveen has been asked to analyze the current situation and to explore the possibilities to arrive at a permanent council majority and a stable administration for the remaining time in this council term.
Sandra Korthuis was acting mayor of Ooststellingwerf and Veendam. She was also Alderman for Finance of the municipality of Rotterdam and a member of the VNG board of directors. She lives in the municipality of Midden-Drenthe.