Sandra Schuurhof and Frits Huffnagel have ended up in a TV fight about the farmers’ protests. She believes that the farmers are being treated outrageously, while as a prominent VVD party he defends government policy.
Shownieuws also pays attention to the anger that exists among farmers now that they have to clear the field to comply with the new nitrogen policy. “The farmers’ protests have been terrorizing the country for a number of days now,” says the presenter of the program Airen Mylene in the broadcast From yesterday.
Frits praises Rutte
VVD-prominent Frits Huffnagel thinks that Prime Minister Mark Rutte is handling it all very well. “The Prime Minister spoke very clearly about a small group of vandals, about a small group of rioters. Attempts were also made not to lump all farmers together.”
An independent mediator is now being considered, who should restart the conversation between farmers and politicians. Frits is less enthusiastic about that. “What will the mediator do then? Policies are just being made and those farmers are trying to change that policy.”
‘Yeah, whoa!’
Sandra Schuurhof protests: “Yes, ho ho ho, yes. It is now very easy for you to waltz over it, from: ‘Policy is being made’, and actually like: ‘They just have to accept that.’ Of course it’s not like that, is it?”
Frits: “Well, I think that’s partly how it is. The other part is that too little has actually been done for a very long time. We live in a small country with a lot of people and we are a huge meat exporting country. You may wonder whether that is a good combination.”
Sandra: “But now the whole problem is left with those farmers. As one group.”
Imaging
Frits: “That is an image that is not entirely correct.”
Sandra: “Well, it is what the practice is in the end.”
Frits: “There are also tons of money ready to buy out those farmers.”
Sandra: “Yes, but they don’t want that.”
Anouk Smulders: “Yes, but you don’t want that at all if you have a company as the third or fourth generation? Then you don’t feel like leaving that behind, do you?”
Frits: “Yes, but a solution is needed.”
Anouk: “Well, there are still quite a few large companies that could also be looked at.”
‘You defend Rutte!’
Sandra: “There is still a lot between the policy that is currently being made and how we put the farmers away in this way.”
Frits: “Something has to be done now because nothing has happened for too long. There are also tough measures in between. It is not the case that there is no consultation at all with the farmers.”
Sandra: “Too little. Frits, are you now defending government policy here?”
Frits: “No, I am defending that the moment a group says: ‘I don’t like this policy’, that it is pretended that people are not listening to it.”
Sandra: “Well, it looks like that in practice, doesn’t it?”
“This is unwise!”
Frits: “Yes, you are now feeding that again and that is not wise at all.”
Sandra: “You feed the other side!”
Frits: “No, I’m just trying to counterbalance a bit.”
Sandra: “I find it scandalous how the farmers are treated.”
Frits: “Well, those are lyrics again!”
Sandra: “No, I really think so.”
Frits: “And Sandra Schuurhof, how are you going to solve the nitrogen problem without buying out the farmers?”
Then the conversation is cut off by the presenter on duty.