The Netherlands has not been disrupted by ongoing farmer protests. Not yet. But the nuisance caused by protesting farmers in recent days at interchanges, highways and distribution centers indicates that it will be a hot summer. Not only have demonstrations been grim, and the Mobile Unit even fired tear gas, the actions are disrupting public life. The responsible minister has already received home visits several times, and politicians make it clear that they feel threatened and unsafe. For example, society at various levels notices the consequences of the demonstrations by angry farmers. From problems with the distribution of food and traffic jams to sabotage of democracy. Farmers have a right to be angry, but the right to demonstrate must be exercised within the bounds of the rule of law.
Politicians and administrators have ignored a problem for years and even made it worse, and the role of successive cabinets in the nitrogen dossier is not pretty. Postponement of hard choices has led to the current situation, in which many measures have to be taken at the same time. It is understandable that this leads to unrest. The way in which the cabinet is now tackling the nitrogen problem is also problematic: unrest has been sown with a ‘nitrogen map’, and the problem has been passed on to the provinces. And: there is still no plan, no prospects for the future of agriculture. That is bad and unnecessary.
Also read: Provinces can barely get started with the nitrogen crisis due to a lack of clarity on the part of the cabinet
Cabinet, provinces and agricultural sector – these three parties need each other, but their interests differ widely. At the request of the House of Representatives, the cabinet will therefore appoint an ‘independent mediator’ to at least get the conversation going again. Johan Remkes, former minister on behalf of the VVD and much sought-after problem solver, is allowed to do that. A logical choice, given his expertise: his authority is great, he knows everything about nitrogen and he even completed the cabinet formation. At the same time, his experience is also a handicap: Remkes advised in two reports to thoroughly reform agriculture. Farmers distrust his independence and have a point in that, the cabinet is partly implementing what Remkes had previously advised. Moreover, he is not really independent. The coalition parties immediately made it clear in the House of Representatives that it is not the intention for Remkes to renegotiate. The agreements are in place. Remkes can sell the cabinet policy with a friendly smile.
The Rutte IV cabinet tends to hide difficult files from discussion leaders, coordinators, committees and a government commissioner. Previous cabinets already did this, but this cabinet should break with this undemocratic trend. No fewer than 29 ministers have been appointed, so ‘too busy’ cannot be an excuse. It is a sign of incompetence that the cabinet hides behind people like Johan Remkes and outsources the difficult jobs time and again. More important argument: external parties are not politically accountable to the House of Representatives and cannot be monitored. This creates a democratic twilight zone, also in the discussion about the future design of the Netherlands. That is undesirable. For years, cabinets have delved into tackling the nitrogen problem. Now that postponement is no longer possible and choices have to be made, the government must show that it makes those choices itself and take political responsibility for them.
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of 6 July 2022