GroenLinks faction leader Julia Kleinrensink does not want to say whether she is happy with the merger. “I honestly think it is something that is up to the members. And the members have decided how they want this: that is together with the PvdA,” she says after the announcement. She then indicates what the new combination should emphasize. “I think we should commit ourselves to an even greener, even more social and even more inclusive Utrecht.” She is aware that such cooperation is no guarantee of success. “It could cost us votes, but it could also make people in Utrecht enthusiastic, we will see.” Kleinrensink does not make a prediction about how many seats the combination will score.