In all elections there are winners and losers. And after tonight, new Drenthes will make their appearance in the House of Representatives, but we will also say goodbye to Drenthes who are leaving The Hague. Below you can read the reactions of Drenthe politicians to the results of the House of Representatives elections.
One of the newcomers who can look for an apartment in The Hague is Renate den Hollander, who was in place 18 on the VVD list. Her party has 23 seats in the provisional results. “A lot has happened in the last 48 hours.” In the polls, VVD was sometimes above, sometimes below eighteen, but the result was in the right direction for Den Hollander.
And according to her, this is thanks to party leader Dilan Yesilgöz. “She has done very well in debates in the last two weeks. She always kept insisting on the content. All signals are now green for a center-right cabinet, which is very good for the Netherlands.”
Tomorrow, Den Hollander can report to The Hague, where she will meet the new VVD faction. “It really turned the world upside down. A training process starts right away, but I just have to let it get over it first.”
Her new role as Member of Parliament means that Den Hollander must also quit her current position, that of alderman in the municipality of Westerveld. “It is with pain in my heart that I will say goodbye to the municipality. I have enjoyed working there immensely. I am trying to transfer everything there to my successor as best as possible.”
For Nico Uppelschoten (PVV) from Eelde, the result feels like a disappointment. The oldest member of the previous House of Representatives hoped that his party would end up with 30 seats, but that appears to be 25. “We have paid too much attention to migration, the important themes of housing and care have been somewhat overlooked.” He thinks it is a shame that his party has been punished so harshly. According to him, the winner of the elections, D66, sounds more optimistic.
Uppelschoten will not return to the House of Representatives. He was ranked 42nd on the list and was therefore left out. “I have always enjoyed being a member of parliament, it was an honor to work in The Hague. But it also feels that I am finally free from my obligations.” Uppelschoten is 81 years old and wants to make more time for home and his wife.