Gert-Jan Schuinder from Zuidlaarderveen is nominated by the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) as the party leader for the Provincial Council elections in Drenthe next year.
On November 12, the members of the party must approve the nomination. BBB has now found a leader for all twelve provinces. The election program is still being worked on.
Schuinder (48) was born in Hoogeveen, made a trip to Groningen during his studies and then returned to the province. “Quickly back to Drenthe, via Zuidlaren I ended up in Zuidlaarderveen”, he briefly outlines his life. The prospective party leader works as a manager at Zorggroep Liante in Southeast Friesland.
“I came into contact with BBB a year ago. I am a citizen and hobby farmer and I think the party is in line with my way of working,” says Schuinder. He describes it as pragmatic. “It’s about wanting to take care of the countryside.”
In addition to spearheads such as nitrogen and the wolf, Schuinder sees opportunities to profile itself in connecting village, city and countryside. “I think that too little attention is paid in politics to the countryside. It is not much about the vitality of small centers or schools in small villages. It is not much about village houses and loss of public transport in the periphery.”
As a resident of Zuidlaarderveen, Schuinder also sees that a lot is happening under Drenthe. “The public interest takes precedence over personal interest, but you can see that at Zuidlaarderveen gas extraction, more water extraction and Nedmag’s salt production take place together. That is why ‘healthy soil’ is also discussed at BBB.”
Agnes Jongman from Nieuw-Balinge is number two on the concept list, ahead of Willem Vossebeld from Coevorden. Derk-Evert Waalkens is in 21st place, the Assenaar was previously on the list of candidates for the House of Representatives for BBB. Jannes Kerssies is already working with the party with his Gemeentebelangen Midden-Drenthe as a BBB partner, he is also on the electoral list.
The BoerBurgerBeweging was founded in 2019. Caroline van der Plas’ party won a seat during the parliamentary elections last year. In many polls, the party scores a much higher number. What are the expectations of BBB for the elections in Drenthe on March 15? “I read that our national chairman, Erik Stegink, recently said 5, 6 or 7 seats. I agree with that.”