Farmers can put up their inverted flags again in the near future with the red band at the top. Farmers’ action group Farmers Defense Force (FDF) announced this following the election victory of the BoerBurgerBeweging.
In recent months, farmers have protested against the cabinet’s nitrogen approach with reversed gusts. BBB focused this election campaign heavily on the nitrogen crisis. And with success, because in the provinces in which all votes have now been counted, the party of figurehead Caroline van der Plas has become the largest.
“The citizens have shown that they support the farmers and not the coalition. It is a recognition and reward for all fighters, who have been pulling the trigger for 3.5 years to fight for their future, family and business,” responds FDF spokesman Sieta van Keimpema on BBB’s profit. “In the coming days, many Dutch flags will be hung the other way around to thank the citizens.”
Jos Ubels from Anderen, vice-chairman of FDF, has no idea whether many protest flags will be turned over in Drenthe. “Today is a day for the farmers to celebrate, then it would be nice if they put the flag straight again for a day. But I don’t know who or how many people do that.”
Ubels himself is not eager to hang the flag again with the red color above. “I still doubt whether I will do that, because the flag does not represent politics but the need on farms. And that has not yet been resolved. The game is not yet over.”
Moreover, Ubels wants to wait and see which parties BBB might form a coalition with. “If that is with PvdA and GroenLinks, BBB has to wriggle in all kinds of corners. But whichever parties are going to govern, it remains important for FDF that the current political train stops.”