Elections for the provincial councils

The big issues in Gelderland

The Dutch are going to the polls on March 2 to elect their provincial representatives. Voting is often done with an eye on the national elections – those voted in will in their turn choose the new senate – but local issues will also make up minds. This is the last in a Volkskrant series on the most pressing provincial headaches.

The debate about culling wild boar – a protected species - has been a big issue in the province of Gelderland for a long time but with the provincial elections just around the corner the subject is back at the top of the agenda. Feelings are running high and not just about culling. Nature has always been important to Gelderland.

‘This is also about ecoducts and mega stables’, says PvdA candidate Harry Keereweer. But will the voters think of these issues when voting? ‘I’m afraid not’, Keereweer admits. ‘But they are important to the province.’

Subtle

The animal welfare party Partij voor de Dieren turned the culling of wild boar into an election issue. Now every party has an opinion on the subject. Regional broadcaster Omroep Gelderland organised a poll on the subject and found that 30 percent of Gelderlanders were against culling and 45 percent in favour.

The opponents of culling aren’t always very subtle when it comes to voicing their opinions. ‘Don’t let Keereweer get away with the mass slaughter of a protected species’. Marianne Thieme twittered recently. Keereweer says he doesn’t mind. ‘But I do feel that the Partij voor de Dieren likes animals better than people.’

Accidents

The wild boar are causing problems, especially in the Veluwe. They cause hundreds of traffic accidents a year and many a local curses them for uprooting their begonias. But nature itself will keep the population in check, say the Partij voor de Dieren and 30 percent of Gelderlanders.

Bleker

National legislation is not on the cards. This is a provincial issue. Junior agriculture minister Henk Bleker said so in a parliamentary debate not long ago. The Partij voor de Dieren, PvdA, PVV, SP, GroenLinks and D66 think it is not effective to shoot 80 percent of wild boar stock every year and want to find another solution. CDA and VVD have no problems with the current situation.

This is an unofficial translation

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