The province of Brabant is disappointed with the fall of the cabinet, because it constitutes a further ‘delay in decision-making’ and thus slows down the development of the province. Deputy Erik Ronnes and employers’ organization VNO-NCW agree, but saw it coming.
The provinces have recently been waiting for guidelines from The Hague to tackle the nitrogen problem, among other things. “They are necessary to provide our farmers with more clarity, but also to further develop provincial planning for nature restoration, agricultural transition and spatial planning. The fall of the cabinet means an even further delay in that decision-making and therefore further delay in the further development of our province.”
Deputy Erik Ronnes
According to deputy Erik Ronnes, who has nitrogen and space and housing in his portfolio, among other things, the fall has been in the air for a long time. “But I express the hope that our province can continue with the plans we have set in motion,” he says. Ronnes is referring to agreements on peak loads, housing and energy. However, there is a good chance that the files will still be delayed due to the fall of the cabinet.
“We don’t know,” he says resignedly. “So it will be a matter of seeing how we continue on a caretaker basis.” In addition, the deputy expects that there will be new elections in any case and that a new path will be taken. “Hopefully the cabinet can then focus more on implementation. We want to get our plans off the ground.”
Agriculture and Horticulture Organization of the Netherlands (LTO)
For farmers’ organization LTO, the fall means ‘uncertainty in an already difficult search for prospects for the future’. Chairman Sjaak van der Tak hopes that a new cabinet will be formed soon for the farmers, market gardeners, breeders and cultivators in the country. “During the provincial elections, we saw that many people value Dutch agriculture,” says Van der Tak. That is why he expects that, if new elections are held, the result will confirm this picture again.
Farmer’s Defense Force
Farmers’ action group Farmers Defense Force has welcomed the fall of the cabinet. “Four years of struggle and now finally: The world is ours!!”, FDF said in a statement.
Employers’ organization VNO-CNW
The fact that it was difficult to get plans off the ground in the fallen cabinet was also a thorn in the flesh for employers’ organization VNO-NCW. “This is very annoying for entrepreneurs. They want clarity and that decisions are made,” responds Brabant chairman Eric van Schagen. Within the employers’ organization they have seen in recent years how important files got stuck, as a result of which the process came to a standstill. “Then I’d rather that that be recognized.”
Van Schagen is a bit afraid of what is to come. “I think there will be a long period in which the country will not be able to make decisions,” he explains. That is why he hopes that parties will come together that, although they have contradictions, are willing to compromise. “At least something happens.”
Association of Dutch Municipalities
On behalf of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), chairman Sharon Dijksma also responds to the fall of the cabinet. “Standstill is now irresponsible,” she says. “Municipalities will continue to take responsibility in the interest of our residents.” Dijksma says that the VNG was in talks with the cabinet about ‘necessary preconditions’ for subjects such as the housing shortage and the energy crisis. “Despite the outgoing status of this cabinet, that conversation must be continued with priority.”
The fourth cabinet of Prime Minister Mark Rutte has fallen over disagreements about asylum policy. VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie did not agree on measures to limit the influx of asylum seekers.
It is likely that new elections will take place sometime in the autumn. When exactly will be announced later.