A Mona day in front of the cameras: at the canal drama in Beerzerveld and the BBB in Colmschate

Read the article Former CDA member Mona Keijzer is BBB’s prime ministerial candidate

Like a kind of Johan Remkes, who mediated so well in the nitrogen crisis between the cabinet and farmers. Keijzer also asked Remkes for some “tips and tricks” in advance, she confirms on Friday. Even the layout of the channel report is exactly like Remkes’s nitrogen report.

She has spoken to more than 120 residents and understands their desperation, anger and mistrust, says Keijzer calmly and clearly. The province does have a generous claims settlement, but the implementation has not gone well, she says. “That can be more humane, easier and milder,” she says, “without being difficult about small wishes.” The claims settlement must be reopened, although this may cost more than the allocated 44 million euros.

The Channels are not so easily convinced, Keijzer receives one critical question after another. The problems already started with maintenance in 1998, says one of the Channels. Why is the King’s Commissioner receiving the report today, but residents have never seen him? Does Keijzer know that it is due to the water levels?

“I am not going to determine who is right here,” she says diplomatically. And what she keeps repeating: “I am not a hydrologist, a loss adjuster and not Lady Justice.” Keijzer believes that what will help victims the most is a quick and proper settlement of the damage. And don’t worry, she’s still here to chat afterwards.

Curiosity

But first she takes plenty of time for a row of journalists. What are your political plans for the future, go to BBB in Deventer, ask one. “I can imagine that everyone is burning with curiosity,” says Keijzer alone.

Most of the Canals have already left, but a few residents have been waiting especially for Keijzer. She shifts fluidly from her formal mediator role to cordial, but efficient us-know-us talk. “Well, I’m going to eat something,” says Mona Keijzer to one, and she leaves.

In Deventer, the BBB succeeded in making the announcement of the prime ministerial candidate a media spectacle. To increase the surprise effect, journalists have to wait until the last moment in a crowded, hot room. That’s where Mona Keijzer arrives, together with three switchers from JA21 and the PVV. She swapped her blue outfit and heels from this morning for green.

Nicki Pouw-Verweij and Derk Jan Eppink of JA21, and PVV member Lilian Helder tell the press very briefly and very enthusiastically that they actually switched to BBB out of admiration and sympathy for Caroline van der Plas. The story of Mona Keijzer is about herself.

At first she had said ‘no’ to Caroline van der Plas, because after 34 years of CDA you don’t just break up with a party. Moreover, she actually wanted to quit politics. But then Keijzer wrote a winning essay for De Nieuwe Denktank about why the government (almost) always fails. “I just felt the political fire burning again. I felt again how important I think it is to help people who are ground up,” she says.

Peter Omzigt

The chance that Keijzer will become prime minister only seems to have shrunk now that Pieter Omtizgt is at the top of the polls with his new party. Does she feel like becoming number two on the electoral list as an ‘ordinary’ Member of Parliament, journalists ask afterwards? “Yes,” Keijzer replies. “Certainly.” She just wants to serve democracy, from where it doesn’t matter, she says.

Wouldn’t Keijzer have preferred to join Omtzigt’s New Social Contract? We know from Pieter that he is very good at putting everything that is wrong on the agenda, such as the Supplements scandal, she replies. But we will not know what his party’s positions are until his election manifesto is available.

And that story that Keijzer has left the CDA because of her criticism of a possible candidacy of Hubert Bruls for the CDA list leader? She also read that story in the newspaper, but she doesn’t feel like looking back.

A group photo must be taken of all new BBB members. “Satisfied?” Keijzer asks the photographers. „Yes.”