Drenthe politicians must participate in a New Year’s dive in the province on January 8. At least, that is the opinion of the Sterk Lokaal Drenthe party, which submitted a motion for this. That call was accepted in the last State Meeting of the year.
Only PVV, Forum for Democracy, Party for the Animals, D66, Lijst Pormes and one member of the seventeen-member BBB faction voted against (33-8). “If possible, I will come and have a look. But I will not dive,” said Jetta Klijnsma, the King’s Commissioner in Drenthe.
The Board of Provincial Executive must take action anyway. The motion specifically states that the council, together with the administrative support and management of the province, must participate in the provincial New Year’s dive in the Baggelhuizerplas near Assen. Deputy Henk Jumelet, who has sports in his portfolio, promised to dive into the water on behalf of the council.
The motion calls for participation in the event on Monday, January 8, “per faction with a delegation”. According to Member of Parliament Alfred Schoenmaker of Sterk Lokaal Drenthe, it is good to keep moving in the context of “the current profession of GS and PS members”. He also promised to put on his swimming trunks if the motion were adopted with an “overwhelming majority”.