The BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) will participate in the municipal elections for the first time in Amsterdam, eight Frisian municipalities and twenty other cities and villages next year. The party leader in Amsterdam is 63-year-old Ruud Thonhauser, who has been active as an entrepreneur in real estate and catering.
As far as BBB is concerned, central to the local elections are “many people’s concerns about the quality of life in their municipality,” party leader Caroline van der Plas said on Saturday during an extra members meeting that focused on the elections on March 18. “Whether it concerns large municipalities or smaller villages, many people are concerned. About the disappearing shops in the street, the healthcare system that is under pressure, those kinds of developments.”
Van der Plas denied to journalists that the interests of the region and agricultural policy were snowed under in the recent House of Representatives elections. “We are always busy with the region, but mainly topics such as migration and housing were in the news. Also by us, which is logical because those are exactly the themes for which our minister Mona Keijzer in the cabinet is responsible.”
Seven to four members
The poor results of the recent parliamentary elections were not discussed in the members’ meeting on Saturday. The faction of seven members fell to four. In addition to Van der Plas, these are now ministers Keijzer and Femke Wiersma (Agriculture) and campaign leader Henk Vermeer. “We are still busy evaluating the elections,” said Van der Plas. “I really can’t say anything about the results yet.”
Topics such as migration and housing in particular made the news. Also by us, which makes sense because our minister Mona Keijzer is responsible for this
According to her, a record is broken when BBB members join the city council. “In six years, BBB has reached the Senate and the House of Representatives, all provincial states, the European Parliament and the water boards. I think that is unique.” BBB does not participate anywhere in South Holland, Drenthe and Flevoland, in Zeeland only in the Zeeuws-Vlaamse Sluis.
If Amsterdammer and BBB’er Ruud Thonhauser ends up in the city council, one of his main points will be setting stricter rules to allow demonstrations. “The right to demonstrate is of course guaranteed, but I am in favor of stricter frameworks. The many demonstrations are an enormous burden on the police and on the city center of Amsterdam.” Also on his agenda is the desire to crack down on fat bike riders more strictly. “In my opinion, it should be much safer, especially in the parks.”
Caroline van der Plas spoke on Saturday during the BBB members meeting.
Photo EMIEL MUIJDERMAN/ANP
In 2023, BBB received 5 percent of the votes in the provincial elections. That would be good for two city council members in Amsterdam next year. “Our goal is to get into the city council, that would be very nice,” says Thonhauser. He has no political experience. “I know MP Henk Vermeer from the time when we both lived in Uddel. I always thought politics was something for other people, but when I saw him on television, I thought: of course I can also become active myself.”
After the meeting, Van der Plas said it was painful that another member of the Senate from the BBB faction had resigned. This time it concerns Arie Griffioen who went to D66 on Friday. Of the sixteen seats won in the elections two years ago, twelve are now left. “The fact that Arie Griffioen has switched really hurts me. I wish him all the best, but it is extra painful that he is now the second senator from BBB to go to D66. That is a party that advocates the expropriation of farmers.”
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Once again a BBB senator switches to D66, without informing party leadership in advance: ‘Angry and surprised’
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