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Rosanne Hertzberger of New Social Contract (NSC) is leaving the House of Representatives after last week’s political unrest. The parliamentarian was committed to a more realistic nitrogen policy.
The riots in Amsterdam and the resignation of NSC State Secretary Nora Achahbar were the final straw for Hertzberger, she said in a statement to the press. According to her, these two events show that things are ‘seriously getting out of hand’ in this cabinet. “Unfortunately, we have to conclude that the brakes have been loosened by several parties. Completely inappropriate statements are being made both in front of and behind the scenes, by the government.”
She continues: “The basic standards of decency, civilization and manners, i.e. how you speak about colleagues and Dutch people, are being violated. That is unacceptable. Particularly because this concerns people who are responsible for our national government. I have seen no credible path to improving manners and ameliorating the hostile political environment. As a Member of Parliament and a person, I can no longer express support for this government.”
In addition to Hertzberger, Femke Zeedijk is also resigning at the same time. She was spokesperson for the portfolios of Economic Affairs, Top Sectors and Industrial Policy, SME, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.
Critical of PVV
Hertzberger had long been critical of forming a coalition with Geert Wilders’ party. “I was aware of the risks associated with this collaboration. At the same time, I also saw this as inevitable, given the election results.”
In July she publicly expressed her concerns about cooperation with PVV. “These are mainly about the PVV’s persistent tendency to insult, generalize, incite minorities, post extremist tweets and disrupt the debate. We shouldn’t consider that normal.”
No split
Both politicians return their seats to the party. This means that they do not continue independently. NSC MPs who were on the electoral list are now eligible for a seat in Parliament. It is not yet known who these are.
After Hertzberger’s departure, Harm Holman and Diederik Boomsma will be left with just the two of them on the Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature.
Career
Hertzberger was given a seat for NSC after the November 2023 House of Representatives elections. So she was there for almost a year. As a parliamentarian, she submitted, among other things, a motion calling on the government to set an arithmetic lower limit of one mole per hectare. This motion was widely adopted. The Agrio editors interviewed her extensively about this in April this year.
Before her membership of Parliament, Hertzberger was a microbiologist at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam. In that position she also wrote columns for NRC.
What are the key factors that contributed to your resignation from the House of Representatives in the context of the current political climate in the Netherlands?
1. Could you please share your thoughts on the current state of politics in the Netherlands and the decision behind your resignation from the House of Representatives?
2. What were your major concerns with the political climate and the cooperation between the parties in the current cabinet, particularly regarding the PVV party’s rhetoric and actions?
3. How did your background as a microbiologist and columnist for NRC prepare you for your role as a member of parliament, and what were some of the challenges you faced during your tenure?
4. What role did the recent riots in Amsterdam and the resignation of NSC State Secretary Nora Achahbar play in your decision to leave parliament?
5. How do you envision a more realistic and effective nitrogen policy, and what steps should be taken to address the ongoing issues surrounding nitrogen emissions in the country?
6. Do you see any potential for collaboration or compromise between different political parties on this issue, or are you pessimistic about finding a solution anytime soon?
7. As someone who has been vocal about the risks of forming a coalition with Geert Wilders’ party, how do you feel about their influence on the current government and their impact on policy decisions?
8. Lastly, what advice would you give to your successor and to other politicians who might be considering leaving their parties or retiring from public service altogether in light of these challenging times?
