Threats, outside pressure and politicians who are more fanatical about making videos than debating. The Hoogeveen VVD member Mark Strolenberg is completely done with the House of Representatives after two years and is leaving The Hague.
Yesterday, Strolenberg announced his departure from national politics. In that short period of time, De Hoogevener found out that the House of Representatives is not his field of activity. “Things are grim here. You notice that there is a lot of pressure on national politics, especially from outside. That goes through the media and social media. Then you also get threats.”
Two years ago, Strolenberg entered the House of Representatives. As number 38 on the electoral list, he was just short of being directly elected. But because several VVD members were given a place in the government, the Hoogevener still got a place in the Chamber. After having been active as a member of parliament for eighteen years, first six years for the water board and then twelve years in municipal politics, this was a real promotion.
“It is a privilege to be a member of the House of Representatives, honorable work. This is the premier league of politics,” said the VVD member. But after two years, the Drent concludes that it was not made for this. Now that the cabinet has fallen, it is time for him to take stock. “I started to reflect and look ahead. What do I actually want, where am I in my strength? The fall of the cabinet has accelerated this.”
In addition to the pressure from outside and the threats, Strolenberg’s way of conducting politics in The Hague has not been easy. “Politics is you trying to find each other.” But he sees that much less in The Hague than with the water board or in the city council. “In the substantive debates, I notice that there is little interest from other MPs and that little is listened to each other. There is a lot of play going on. In addition, a large part of the MPs present is busy producing videos for social media during the debates. Parts of your contributions are cut and put away. That is not the way of doing politics that suits me.”
In the coming months, Strolenberg will remain active in The Hague. “I will continue to do my very best until the elections. In addition, I will also participate in the campaign and then I will see what I will do in the future. In any case, I get a lot of energy from my social commitment to my region. I also want to do that in the future, to narrow the gap between residents and politicians.