Alderman Jeroen Hartsuiker leaves at the municipality of Borger-Odoorn. He expects to work as a member of the House of Representatives for the VVD in the short term. “I would like to be able to contribute something at national level.”
The Klazienavener was asked after party members Thierry Aartsen and Judith Tielen from the Chamber make the switch to the outgoing cabinet. “I already applied for myself in 2023. When I saw that the PVV got out of the cabinet, I thought: this could just go very quickly.” And it will certainly be soon. Today Hartsuiker shared his departure by letter with the city council and next Wednesday he will be sworn in as a Member of Parliament.
“It is a great honor for me to be able to act as a national representative on behalf of our party. At the same time, I have to say goodbye to a position that is very dear to me. In recent years I have been able to work with full commitment and dedication to the ambitions and tasks in our beautiful municipality in the field of entrepreneurship, mobility, sustainability and the design of the public space.
“I thought my position was great to do in Borger-Odoorn, but I also see that there are many challenges that have to be determined at a national level. You can then stand aside, but you can also contribute.” Yet he does not leave Drenthe completely behind. “Drenthe is in my heart, I would never leave that behind.”
He takes his experience to The Hague, but which portfolio he is assigned is not yet clear. He does know that he does not want to sit in the room for a short period. “My intention is certainly to get a nice place on the election list and to be able to use me in the Chamber even after the elections.”
Mayor Jan Seton: “We knew about Jeroen’s ambitions, and understand that he is now taking this opportunity. With his departure we are losing a very involved and active alderman, who has managed to leave his mark on his broad portfolio in a short time. We are going to miss him in Borger-Odoorn and wish him a lot of success in the Chamber at the same time.”
The College of Borger-Odoorn has temporarily distributed Hartsuiker’s duties. The VVD group in the city council goes looking for a successor.