The Drenthe PVV yesterday reported the theft of two banners that hung in a meadow in connection with the Provincial Council elections. Last week the farmer of the pasture found out that the banners had disappeared.
Teun Kijf of the PVV does not expect anyone to be arrested immediately for the theft. “I now want to focus on the positive energy again,” said the number 4 on the electoral list for the state elections. “We have to keep it sporty.” He previously gave the thieves until Monday to report.
It is not the first time that election material has been stolen or destroyed. In Staphorst a sign with posters of the SGP was recently destroyed, in Veendam a sign with D66, BBB and JA21 and posters for the Groningen water board elections were taped over. A sign has also been destroyed in Hasselt. “Maybe they have a camera at the one in Staphorst and it may be the same person,” hopes Kijf. “Then it might pay off.”
A number of signs have also been destroyed at the VVD Midden-Drenthe. Plates have been processed with a knife and repainted. “We think that is disrespectful,” says Henk de Weerd of VVD Midden-Drenthe. They will report on Thursday.
Incidentally, Kijf likes a bit of a fight during election times. “If you stick posters in the wild, you can stick over them. That also happens with us and we do that ourselves. I have no problem with that, but we have to live and let live a little.”
According to Kijf, the farmer where the banners were placed on the pasture is especially angry. “We had permission and strangers just come on his land.”