Alderman Jeannet Bos, of the municipality of Meppel, received a motion of disapproval from the entire opposition during the city council. The three coalition parties did not support that, so there is no majority.
She received the censure motion for her response to an interview with her in the Meppeler Courant, about the Great Church. In it she argues that the municipality may have to tighten the screws of the church board if the sale of the church does not go through. There were plans to furnish the church as a library, among other things, but that is off the table.
The church is empty because it was too expensive for the Protestant Municipality of Meppel. She used several church buildings and has moved back to a building where church services are held. Other activities are also no longer held.
The CDA has difficulty with the municipality interfering with the property of another organization. The party has asked questions about this to the alderman, but is not satisfied with the answer. For example, Bos first responds that she did not write the article, but after further questioning she does say that she has agreed with the text. Largely because of this reaction, the opposition parties are moving the motion of censure.
The coalition parties think that goes much too far.