Henk Staghouwer (ChristenUnie) needed a minute and a half on Monday evening to explain why he is resigning immediately as Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV). “I have asked myself whether I am the right person to lead the tasks that lie ahead,” he said at a brief press moment. I came to the conclusion last weekend that I am not that person.” He didn’t answer questions.
Henk Staghouwer (60) is the departure of the first minister of the Rutte IV cabinet. The former commissioner had come to The Hague from Groningen, he said, to offer farmers perspective in an uncertain time. But he never succeeded in that mission in eight months. Few in The Hague are really surprised about his departure. Staghouwer had little credit in the House of Representatives, in the cabinet and in his own ministry.
Staghouwer was put forward by the ChristenUnie to take on one of the most complex files of Rutte IV: the nitrogen crisis. The coalition agreement states that nitrogen emissions must be reduced by 50 percent by 2030. This requires tough interventions in agriculture. To get the job done, Staghouwer worked with Christianne van der Wal (VVD), the Minister of Nitrogen and Nature, at the Ministry of Agriculture.
At first glance, Van der Wal had the most difficult portfolio. She is about buying out farmers, she must ensure that the cabinet achieves the hard reduction targets against which farmers have been protesting for months. Staghouwer was allowed to represent the soft hand of the cabinet. It was his job to show how farmers could survive in the future, in the midst of new techniques, stricter rules and banks that are not yet ready to take the step towards organic farming.
Ambitious Goals
The goals of Rutte IV are ambitious, but the implementation left much to be desired. In June, Staghouwer and Van der Wal presented a – by now infamous – map showing how far nitrogen emissions had to be reduced per area. That card immediately sparked anger among farmers. On the same day, Staghouwer also presented his so-called perspective note for agriculture. It was also criticized.
When the ministerial duo defended the plans in the House of Representatives two weeks later, their fate diverged further. Despite all the criticism, Van der Wal received praise for her steadfastness and clarity. The dissatisfaction in the House about Staghouwer only increased further. The minister tried to get out of the situation by promising on the spot to come up with a new, much more detailed perspective. Already in September, before Prinsjesdag. They looked surprised at LNV. Such a detailed letter, so soon?
At that time, the coalition already had doubts about the friendly, but hesitant appearing Staghouwer. He seemed absent in debates, his speeches were vague, and the impression was created that Staghouwer had little authority internally. Agricultural spokespersons from the four coalition parties (VVD, D66, CDA and ChristenUnie) regularly visited the ministry to provide feedback before letters to parliament were sent. Members of parliament noticed that he did not often come up with ideas himself, but that he was under pressure from civil servants who were not keen on a major reform of the agricultural sector. According to those involved, it resembled a minister under guardianship – of both the coalition and his own civil service.
Disagreement in coalition over nitrogen
A complicating factor was that, in response to farmers’ protests, the cabinet appointed Johan Remkes as ‘independent discussion leader’. Remkes’ role became greater than just that of a mediator. He also has to solve a problem in the coalition. CDA leader Wopke Hoekstra recently called 2030 as the year that the goals had to be achieved “not sacred”. D66 in particular attaches great importance to 2030. As long as Remkes does not come up with recommendations, this possible crisis will be frozen for a while. The parties have suspended their disagreements for a while. It is clear that the coalition has different views on the nitrogen dossier.
Staghouwer promised last week that he would soon finish his letter, but there was less and less confidence in the House. On Monday, Staghouwer sent a (final) letter to the House, in which he wrote that his perspective on the future of agriculture has been postponed for the time being, pending Remkes.
Until there is a successor, Staghouwer will be replaced by party colleague Carola Schouten. She is now Minister of Poverty Reduction, but she is also Staghouwer’s predecessor as Minister of Agriculture. In any case, the nitrogen dossier is considerably delayed.
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of September 6, 2022