That is what regional chairman Bert Dieters, deputy Tjeerd van Dekken and former alderman Jan-Willem van de Kolk (Bedum and Stadskanaal) say.
They respond to party leaders such as former minister Jet Bussemaker and former party leader Job Cohen. Bussemaker argues in the Algemeen Dagblad for a merger on links between at least the PvdA and GroenLinks, while Cohen tells Nieuwsuur that the parties must disband, to start under one new party name.
‘Using your own strength’
Tjeerd van Dekken, deputy on behalf of the PvdA, does not like that. “The PvdA is a real people’s party, we have to rely on our own strength,” he says. ‘We shouldn’t have a structure discussion, now is not the time for that.’
The PvdA must again focus on helping people who live in uncertainty
‘Given the spirit of the times, the impact of the corona crisis, our assignment is a completely different one. The PvdA must again focus on helping the people who are now losing their jobs and living in uncertainty. Then it is up to the voter whether they want to reward that. ‘
Broad people’s party
Regional chairman Bert Dieters also has doubts about the usefulness and necessity of a merger. ‘I’m still thinking about this question. Of course I am concerned about links. But I think we should see how we can get social democracy out of that trough. We were and are a broad people’s party. ‘
We have to work for the people again
Dieters knows the mechanisms that take place when there is unrest around the PvdA. ‘I jokingly said that we will be evaluating in the party for the next fourteen days. That way we keep each other busy. But we have to work for the people again, that’s what it’s all about. ‘
New way of politics
Jan-Willem van de Kolk also believes that a merger between the PvdA and GroenLinks should not be an end in itself. ‘I do think it is good that the question is asked,’ he says. ‘But I think a merger as an end in itself is going a step too far. I think that we as parties on the left should really start cooperating in the coming years, including with the SP. The left must reinvent itself in the coming years.
The old columns have completely crumbled
The former councilor of Bedum and Stadskanaal thinks he knows why the left was not discussed during the elections and why the PvdA, GroenLinks and the SP together did not get more than 26 seats. ‘The main reason is the corona crisis. The current authority is given confidence. D66 made an impression in the campaign with the focus on new leadership. In addition, many voters who vote for Rutte have opted for stability. ‘
According to Van de Kolk, the PvdA must take a step back. ‘Nine seats is too few to covet. This number of seats indicates a statement. The old pillars have completely crumbled, resulting in a smaller CDA and PvdA. We have to work on a new way of doing politics to make the PvdA relevant again. ‘
Also read:
– Analysis: Election results widen the gap between high and low educated people
– Joy and sorrow on election night: Groningen is heading for five MPs
– This is why the VVD is the largest in the heart of the quake area
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