Informant Tjeenk Willink hears how ombudsman gives the government a slap on the fingers | Inland

“Trust in the government is much less than it ever was,” observes civil watchdog Van Zutphen. According to him, it may take a while before it gets better again: “The government must first show that it can be reliable, then confidence may return.”

The ombudsman outlines that he sees in the benefits affair and all kinds of other cases a pattern of a government that has lost sight of those who are affected by the government. “These are often the people who need the government so badly. The citizen has fallen out of sight. That means that you have to be close again, that you know what is going on, that you really have to be interested and give him a chance. ”

Putters’ planning office is constantly researching what is going on in society. “People often find it very complicated to still understand all the rules. This also affects trust in the government, ”explains the director. He warns that the theme of trust is not just about what is going on in the political arena itself: “Above all, talk about the relationship between society and politics.”

Van Zutphen intends to beat the drum more himself: “Let’s make sure that it gets through here. I can play a role in this by being more committed to keeping them on track. ”

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