Prime Minister Rutte promises to talk to farmers this summer: ‘I think it will be fine’ Inland

At his Friday press conference, Rutte reports that he will visit farms this summer. “I understand the enormous concerns that farmers have,” he says. “We are going to work on that. I will soon also be visible in places to talk to people.”

His colleagues in the cabinet – agriculture minister Henk Staghouwer and nitrogen minister Christianne van der Wal – will also be in talks with farmers in the near future. Those two have to deal with hefty threats against them. For example, Van der Wal was visited several times at home by frustrated farmers.

With the appointment of VVD celebrity Johan Remkes as ‘discussion leader’, Rutte hopes that the mood will calm down. Yet many farmers’ organizations – including LTO – have indicated that they are not interested in a conversation with Remkes, who is seen as the architect of this cabinet’s nitrogen plans.

Nevertheless, the VVD Prime Minister thinks that everything will turn out well. “They are all sensible organizations, we are sensible, we are all sensible. I think it will be fine.”

Also listen to the podcast Afhameren with political commentator Wouter de Winther:

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