In municipal elections, there are one or more local parties on almost every electoral list. In many provinces, these parties are increasing in number and receiving a significant share of the votes. There are also various success stories in Drenthe, but our province has relatively the least choice when it comes to local parties.
During the 2018 municipal elections, the local parties made more profit than ever. The result: in more than three quarters of all municipalities a local party was elected. That is also a familiar sight in Drenthe. For example, BBC2014 in Coevorden is part of the coalition and the Combination of Municipal Interests co-governs in Aa and Hunze. In Westerveld, after the elections, even three local parties jointly reached a coalition agreement, although this did not last.
So there is no shortage of votes for the local parties in Drenthe, but the supply is still relatively scarce. In our province, in the coming municipal elections, a quarter of the electoral lists are of local origin. That is 14 percent below the national average, according to an analysis by ANP/LocalFocus of the election lists from 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. The big question: how can this difference be explained?
often hassle
Douwe Oosterveen, who is a former councilor and party leader of De Wolden Municipal Interests, sees an explanation in the history of most local parties in our province. “These parties were founded in Drenthe with a clear local idea. Elsewhere in the country there is often hassle. Many local parties arise there as a split from another party. The personal interest is then considered more important than the party interest.”