The election congress of the Christian Union starts with a song of thanksgiving. The title, “Ten Thousand Reasons to Be Grateful,” appears on a screen. “Praise the Lord, O my soul, O my soul, glorify His Holy Name,” those present sing in unison. Some have their eyes closed, others put their hand on their chest or in the air.
The atmosphere in the Nieuwe Buitensociëteit conference hall in Zwolle is cheerful. Blue and white flags with the Christian Union logo hang in the foyer. The women wear colorful blouses, the men dress up in shiny suits for the occasion. People are waving at each other, hands are being shaken and hugs are being exchanged.
The members can vote a lot this Saturday day. Now that the list of candidates and the election manifesto are known, members will have the opportunity to make final adjustments through amendments. ‘I always wear my Christian Union socks to the election conference’, is the first test question with which the participants can practice. There is laughter in the room.
Stieneke van der Graaf
But the elation comes to an abrupt end when it is time for the first vote. 542 members want Groningen Member of Parliament Stieneke van der Graaf, number nine on the candidate list, to move to fifth place. This would mean that the position of Joëlle Gooijer-Medema, who has been placed in fifth place by the candidate committee, would drop back on the list. The Christian Union now has five parliamentary seats, the polls show approximately the same number.
David de Jong, councilor in the municipality of Eemsdelta in Groningen, explains the proposal as the proposer. It is nothing to the detriment of Joëlle, he emphasizes, and also nothing to the detriment of the committee that compiled the list. But Van der Graaf, as a representative of the Northern Netherlands, would really deserve a place in the top five. Van der Graaf and Gooijer-Medema watch silently from the front row of the room.
A painful tension hangs in the air as members vote on the fate of the two candidates. The amendment does not reach a majority. The candidate list remains unchanged. The top three consists of party leader Mirjam Bikker, Pieter Grinwis and Don Ceder, who are currently also part of the Christian Union’s House of Representatives faction. The highest newcomer in fourth place is Alwin te Rietstap, councilor in Hardenberg. Member of Parliament Nico Drost, spokesperson for healthcare and digital affairs, among other things, is in sixth place. Outgoing Minister Carola Schouten and outgoing State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen are not eligible for re-election.
I-tature
Member of Parliament Don Ceder crawls behind a turntable, puts on headphones and while cheerful music blares from the speakers, the fifty candidates from the list walk onto the stage. Pieter Grinwis announces party leader Mirjam Bikker. Her speech is a plea for “a caring community” and against “cold market thinking”. We must put an end to the ‘I-nature, in which your own happiness is entirely your responsibility’. As the smallest government party, the Christian Union was part of the cabinet twice in a row: in Rutte-III (2017-2022) and Rutte-IV (2022-2023). With its Christian norms and values, the party was often diametrically opposed to the liberal VVD. While the Christian Union argued for humane reception of asylum seekers, the VVD wanted to limit the influx.
The disagreements about migration ultimately led to the fall of the cabinet, just before the summer recess. The VVD wanted to propose a travel ban for persons with a temporary residence permit. The Christian Union refused this, which, as a ‘family party’, considered it important that parents and children could be reunited.
Also read:Christian Union calls for ‘peace in the household books’ in election manifesto
The Christian Union party leader regrets the fall of the cabinet. “It is difficult for me that a self-imposed deadline has led to this result,” she said in an explanation during the conference. Yet she is happy that the Christian Union has continued to stand its ground. “We have drawn a line that I have not heard anyone talk about. So it is very clear who we are and what we stand for.”
Evelijn Zandberg, board member of youth party PerspectieF, thinks the fall of the cabinet is a good move. In her view, it is better that the plug was pulled from the cabinet than that the demands of the VVD were listened to. As far as she is concerned, the party will go into opposition next time.
Opposition or not
The latter is the big question. Should the Christian Union return to the cabinet after the elections if that were possible? Or should the party choose the opposition?
A place in the opposition would be better for the party, said members while drinking coffee. At the same time: the Christian Union is simply a constructive party, says Marjan Zijlmans from Vlaardingen. Former municipal councilor Cor de Jonge, also from Vlaardingen, agrees with her. According to them, taking responsibility fits in with the party’s ethos. There is a good chance, they think, that the major parties will soon need the Christian Union again. Opposition or coalition, the Christian Union is certainly not a party that just shouts anymore, says Zijlmans. “It’s not just about words, but also about actions.”
During the break, there is a lot of discussion at another table about the direction of the party. It’s all becoming very left-wing, thinks a Christian Union member from the municipality of Westland and he starts talking about the minimum wage. The Christian Union wants the minimum wage, which is currently 12.79 euros per hour, to rise to 18 euros. No other party has such an ambitious amount in its election manifesto. “We will soon have to work together with Klaver,” he sighs, referring to GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver. Better than again with the VVD, his wife thinks. “Nice wedding at your home,” jokes their table companion and there is a big laugh.
Gambling industry
Bikker himself does not want to anticipate cooperation after the elections on November 22. According to her, the choice between coalition or opposition is not yet up for debate. The Christian Union is not about power, but about ideals, she says. “Wherever we are, we really have something to deliver.” Bikker sees it as the task of the Christian Union to solve the problems that have been left untouched for too long. She mentions the housing market and the gambling industry, where “locust capitalism” has taken over. These are topics that the Christian Union will tackle in the coming campaign. The focus is now on the elections, says Bikker, “after that we will see who we will work with.”