“It actually doesn’t suit me,” writes the now ex-deputy Jos van der Horst in his farewell letter to the Provincial Council. He will resign from his position immediately. According to him, the reason for his departure is the difference with his fellow directors. “They all have a public administration background and I can’t deal with that very well.”
Van der Horst was installed as deputy for Energy and Culture on behalf of the SP on September 8. The intention was that he would work on SP spearheads such as insulating homes. But from the start it became apparent that he had difficulty filling his position. To the frustration of parties in the Provincial Council. He didn’t come out well.
Tap the fingers
This became painfully clear earlier this month during a debate on the energy transition. Brabant is not on track to achieve its own goals on this file and the province received a heavy slap on the fingers from the Southern Court of Audit.
But the deputy dismissed this with his expectation that ‘trend breaks’ would solve the problem. Attempts by almost all parties to have him explain what these ‘trend breaks’ are, how you see them coming and whether they are all positive at all, appear to be in vain. Much to the annoyance of the members of Parliament.
Too busy
He says his way of working is very different from that of his colleagues at the college. According to him, it is abstract. “I had to force myself to ‘participate’ in the board,” Van der Horst writes.
But that is not the only reason for his dismissal. “The amount of time spent on my work started to become unacceptable.” The ex-deputy writes that he no longer had time for his family during the summer holidays, which bothered him.
SP faction leader Nico Heijmans says: “It is not at all up to the person, but the administrative coat does not suit him. Jos (van Der Horst, ed.) is a doer and became entangled in the web of official consultations.”
Substitute
The SP will now look for a replacement. Although it cannot be installed before the State Assembly on April 5, Van der Horst will resign his work immediately. His successor must be appointed again by the Provincial Council. It is known that no one from the faction will take over.
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