Bas Maes (43) from Breda succeeds Jos van der Horst as deputy at the province. Van der Horst resigned last Friday and quit immediately. He felt out of place in the college. Successor Maes should fit that administrative coat better, the SP thinks. If a majority of the Provincial Council shares that opinion, he may take a seat in the council.
Bas Maes has been active for the SP for years. That started immediately after his training as an architect. In the evenings, in addition to his full-time job, he worked for ROOD, the former youth wing of the SP. He later became party leader in the Breda city council and policy officer for the House of Representatives faction.
In August 2020, Maes announced that he would stop as faction leader in Breda. He remained as a councilor, but until the elections. Then he would stop. Since February 2022, management advisor at the Brabantse Delta water board.
You left politics in Breda and until recently had a completely different job. Why are you returning to politics?
“I was actually politically active in recent years as a management advisor. But that was more in the background. I was at peace with that. This opportunity to now take responsibility as a director suddenly presented itself. I was not looking for another job, but if the party calls on you, you don’t say no.”
“The content of the agreement convinced me. With plans for nature and energy, for example. To this end, I want to work together with these other left-wing progressive parties and with VVD and Lokaal Brabant in the council. We must radiate peace and stability , there is a need for that after the past few years.”
Your predecessor said he left because he found it difficult to deal with the ‘administrative character’ of his colleagues. Will you soon run into the same thing?
“I don’t want to judge my predecessor. I’m going to do it my own way and I think I have a good impression of the work. In The Hague and in the Breda council I have seen what administrative work can do to people. You can easily be swallowed up in the official swamp. I did not say yes to this lightly.”
Ex-deputy Van der Horst also indicated that he barely had time for his family. It’s not a 9 to 5 job. Are you prepared for how much time this role will require of you?
“It is indeed not nothing. The most important thing was that my wife approved of it. Fortunately, my parents are willing to help out to look after the children. My sons, aged 4 and 7, do not realize exactly what kind of work I will be doing or what a deputy is But when I asked them what they would do if you could do a really nice job, where you would see each other less, they would go for the fun work. I see that as their approval.”
“In addition, we live in 2024. It is a tough job to combine with a family with young children, but as a director you also have to be a good father.”
You inherit quite a bit of a file. For example, the province is lagging behind in its plans for sustainable energy.
“The energy transition seems like a tough subject, but it affects everyone directly. It can widen or narrow the divide between rich and poor. Will only rich people who own a home soon be able to participate in sustainability? Or do we take care of everyone? I want to make a case for it.” for the latter.”
Culture will soon also be in your portfolio. What do you want to do for that?
“I want to ensure that sport and culture are for everyone. That it is not seen as something elitist that retreats behind the walls of museums and stadiums. Everyone should be able to express themselves in art and come into contact with it.”
“For many people, the basics have to be in order before they turn their attention to culture. They are so busy making ends meet that they are not concerned with art. I want that to be different, that it is not just a cherry on top the cake is.”
How do you want to look back on this board period in three years’ time?
“Personally, I hope that I have been able to make a nice contribution to the energy transition, in a fair way. And that culture has been broadened and reached more people. And that these have been stable years for Brabant.”
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