MPs wave off: ‘This is my Liberation Day’ | Inland

“Saying goodbye always hurts, but it’s also the birth of a memory,” Arib begins. In her introduction, she reads a letter from eleven-year-old Vera de Winter, who praises the MPs. “You are doing great. You work hard and all want the best in the Netherlands. I am proud of you, ”the child writes. The letter arouses emotion and loud applause among those present.

Function elsewhere

Arib addresses all MPs personally. Due to corona, this is done in three groups. The MP who sits past may also give a speech at each group.

69 parliamentarians say goodbye to their workplace at the Binnenhof on Tuesday. These are MPs who have not been re-elected or who have chosen to leave. Familiar faces disappear from the Chamber. Former VVD party chairman Klaas Dijkhoff, for example. But Ronald van Raak (SP), who has been in the Chamber since 2006, also says goodbye.

CDA Member of Parliament Madeleine van Toorenburg – has not returned to the House since 2007. She can hardly comprehend it anymore. “” It is actually still very busy, I have just come out of the Senate to defend a private member’s bill. “

“There is no function elsewhere yet”, she repeats the words of chronicler Jaïr. “I will soon come to a screeching halt.”

Her party colleague Chris van Dam has a hard time with it. He ran a personal campaign to get back into the Chamber, but to no avail. He has not yet considered a position elsewhere. “First close everything, get a good rest.” What that looks like, take it easy? “My daughters asked me that recently. I don’t know myself either. As a Member of Parliament you are always on. “

Pieter Omtzigt

And Lodewijk Asscher has been away for a while, after he resigned his group chairmanship due to the benefits affair, but he will also formally say goodbye on Tuesday. Asscher is especially disappointed that he cannot participate in the debate with ex-scouts Kajsa Ollongren and Annemarie Jorritsma. “I would have loved to have done that debate myself. I already have a whole list of questions for Rutte in my head. But yeah. When you’re gone, you’re gone. ”

Asscher does not rule out that he will ever return to The Hague. “Who knows.”

Joël Voordewind (CU) has ‘lived towards this for months’. “This is my Liberation Day. Although of course it will be rehab, after 25 years. ” He will not miss the hectic pace of membership in parliament. “I’m not going to miss the madness of this house. The nocturnal debates, the agenda that is constantly being changed. ” The outgoing Member of Parliament gives CDA member Pieter Omtzigt – who is sitting at home with exhaustion – a warm heart. “People like him are very much needed in this parliament. We are here to control the government, and I think the new generation will too. ”

Bed & breakfast

Henk Krol also has to say goodbye to his role as representative of the people. He would have liked to participate in another round, but doesn’t mind at all to do something else. “I am finally getting to the realization of all those great ideas that I still have.” Krol is going to start a bed & breakfast. “Not for bread, but because I like it.”

The new and re-elected MPs will be installed on Wednesday. They are then sworn in and take the oath or promise.

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