Sixty self-described “concerned” members of the BoerCurgerBeweging (BBB) are calling on the party management to “immediately and maximally” focus on Mona Keijzer’s return to the party and the House of Representatives through independent mediation. They stated this in an urgent letter sent on Thursday NRC has seen, let us know. They call Keijzer’s departure “a low point”. The signatories include former ministers Gouke Moes and Robert Tieman and state secretaries Nicki Pouw-Verweij and Gijs Tuinman. Some faction leaders of provincial departments also opposed this last week NRC declared that they supported Van der Plas and Vermeer, but nevertheless added their names to the letter.
BBB founder Caroline van der Plas resigned as party leader last month, but remained as a Member of Parliament. She appointed co-founder Henk Vermeer, number three on the BBB candidate list in the last House of Representatives elections, as successor. The parliamentary faction, currently consisting of Van der Plas, Vermeer and former minister Femke Wiersma, elected him as chairman last Tuesday. The night before, Keijzer, the popular number two, had via The Telegraph her departure from BBB announced. She had been promised leadership, she said.
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The signatories of the letter believe that democratic processes are not secured, the professionalization of organization and administration is lagging behind and that “individual positions outweigh the broader party interests.” The party management would also base the course on the short term and current events. The critics argue for a “consistent strategic line”. Moreover, there is no room for contradiction and reflection within the party, they say.
If the party leadership does not want to listen and the current course is continued, the signatories predict that the BBB will empty. There is also a risk that regional factions will “throw in the towel while together we form the backbone of the party,” the letter reads.
Despite the criticism, the “glass is half full”, say the sixty members. They want the party leadership to have an “independent evaluation” carried out into the disappointing election results before the summer. Strategic choices, including organization and campaigning, must be examined.
The board must also organize a physical general membership meeting “immediately” (this month of March). In addition, members must be given direct opportunity to participate and vote in determining party leadership. Candidates other than party leader Vermeer must also be able to register. Furthermore, a “consistent political vision” must be developed before the beginning of May.
Henk Vermeer arrives late NRC know that he does not want to respond on Thursday evening.
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