Caroline van der Plas (BBB) will not be present at the farmers’ protest in The Hague on Saturday. “A number of things have happened in the past week that make me not feel safe enough to stand on stage at such a massive public gathering,” said the politician.
Van der Plas also received threats in the middle of last year. Then she temporarily stepped back.
“After that it was quieter, but in the past week it became restless again,” says Van der Plas Inside today. “There are people so angry with me, so convinced that I am evil, that someone can decide to do something. I don’t want to take that risk.”
Farmers’ action clubs will demonstrate this weekend against the government’s nitrogen policy. Some politicians will be present at the protest and will also address the activists. Van der Plas would also have liked to have done that. “Security would be provided, but that still gives a very unsafe feeling. I would like to go for a while.”
More and more politicians are speaking out against the unsafe climate for people who participate in the public debate. Last year, a record number of politicians went to the police because of threats. Last summer, the nitrogen specialists of VVD and D66 had to decide not to go to a large farmers’ protest in Stroe because their safety could not be guaranteed, according to safety coordinator NCTV.
Farmers are only allowed to come to The Hague with two tractors
The municipality of The Hague announced on Tuesday that the farmers’ demonstration next Saturday may continue, but with a maximum of two ‘symbolic’ tractors. The planned demonstration by climate activists is also allowed to continue, but not on the A12/Utrechtsebaan.
Farmers’ action group Farmers Defense Force (FDF) actually wanted to come to The Hague with 5,000 tractors. When the municipality of The Hague let it be known that it did not like that, the group reduced that number to 500. Subsequently, FDF wanted to place 120 tractors in the Zuiderpark as a demarcation of the demonstration area, but the municipality did not want that either.
“The experiences with farmers’ protests in which heavy equipment has been used are bad,” the municipality writes in the letter to FDF. “These actions have led to serious traffic disruption, unsafe traffic situations, disorder and damage.”
A maximum of 25,000 people are allowed to participate in the protest, which must take place between noon and 4 p.m. The two tractor units may only drive through The Hague with an escort and must be parked somewhere in consultation with the police. FDF says it does not intend to challenge the decision.
