PROVINCE OF UTRECHT – In Utrecht, Wakker on Radio M Utrecht looks back on the winners and losers of the municipal elections. And perhaps more importantly, they look ahead. What does the result mean for the important topics in local politics?
No, it was not a party at the VVD in Amersfoort. “This cuts in,” says party leader Maarten Flikkema. The Liberals in Amersfoort lost two seats: from six to four. “We had hoped for seat retention”, says Flikkema, “and in the worst case we had taken into account a loss of seat.”
According to the party leader, it is still too early to find out in detail where things went wrong. The party has been in the coalition for the past four years. “We have achieved a lot in the college. At the moment the result is still a mystery.”
As in many, if not all, municipalities, Amersfoort was concerned with housing construction. The VVD thought it had a unique view of the situation. While other parties mainly see benefit in building social housing, the VVD also wants to build in the segment above. “Then you also have throughput and social housing will still be available.”
The story has been told, but apparently not arrived. That is Flikkema’s tentative conclusion. The VVD lost ground across the country.
Lopik chooses for himself
Lopik has spoken, and there is no prospect of a merger with other municipalities. At least, that’s how party leader Yvonne Slob (Heart for Lopik) interprets the election results in the municipality. “The voters have clearly spoken out. ChristenUnie/SGP and Hart voor Lopik are against the merger, they have also become the largest parties. Lopik does not want to merge.”
Yvonne Slob (Heart for Lopik): ‘Creatively looking at income and expenditure’
According to Slob, Lopik can manage financially on its own. “It is sustainable. We will have to look creatively at expenses and income. A lot is possible there.” According to the party leader, a merger with a municipality that is in a worse position will lead to the loss of facilities in one of the nine cores.
On behalf of Hart voor Lopik, Slob already had one seat on the council, as a split from the VVD. Slob and her party have now independently become the second party of the council, with one seat less than Christenunie/SGP (5 seats).
Although the two parties together form a majority, a coalition is not yet a foregone conclusion. Slob: “We will talk in the near future. It is what the citizens say, but we have not yet discussed it with each other.”
‘poldering was invented in Woerden’
Hart voor Lopik is not tied to a national party, which is an advantage, says Slob. “We can talk to residents per point and do not have to take national politics into account, which is very nice.”
A little further on in Woerden, the CDA has remained the largest party, despite the loss of one seat, the party has six left. Party leader Job van Meijeren does not see the connection with a national party as a problem. “I think the contrast between national and local is a bit strong. We are all councilors who operate close to residents.”
Job van Meijeren (CDA) about the election results in Woerden
Parties that strongly opposed the arrival of windmills in Woerden during the campaign have won small victories. According to the CDA, Woerden does not have the luxury of turning against wind turbines definitively. “With the energy problem, we cannot say: no windmills now, never no windmills.”
Discussion about windmills, increased fragmentation in the city council. Work to be done in Woerden. “I expect a puzzle”, says the CDA member, “but in Woerden all parties are actually prepared to think along.” Moreover, poldering was invented in Woerden, at least according to Van Meijeren.