“Pieter works at home in Enschede and does his things there,” says Nicolien van Vroonhoven (53) the day after she was caught in a storm, because party leader Pieter Omtzigt had announced that he would take a “step back” for a while on the advice of his doctor. As number two in the party, Van Vroonhoven is temporarily fulfilling his duties and on Thursday he works quietly in the building of the House of Representatives in The Hague.
What exactly will Omtzigt’s role be in Enschede? “He will ask parliamentary questions and advise remotely,” says his replacement. In Omtzigt’s own words, he will work “more in the background” for a while and “less in the spotlight.”
These statements are what have left the coalition partners confused. Because if Omtzigt continues to interfere in decisions “behind the scenes”, who will be pulling the strings at the NSC in the coming weeks?
Call Eschede
Now that the dust around Omtzigt has settled a bit, BBB leader Caroline van der Plas, for example, says she still has “some questions”. She has a positive opinion of Van Vroonhoven – “I get on well with her” – but wonders: “What is Nicolien’s mandate?”
“She will of course be very welcome” at the planned coalition consultation between party leaders, says Van der Plas, “but if we do reach an agreement, will she speak on behalf of the NSC?” Or should she also call Enschede, so to speak?
The thing is, according to the BBB leader, “I’m still not entirely clear on what it means that Pieter is still working in the background: is he making the decisions or is Nicolien?”
The other coalition parties – the PVV and the VVD – are also somewhat questioning. The PVV does not yet know Van Vroonhoven well and therefore does not yet know what her authority is within the party, but it is assumed that she can do something. The coalition party VVD is taking a fairly neutral position, but here too they are wondering whether Omtzigt will take the eastward route. Perhaps she does not yet know, think the liberals.
Secret Application Group
Asked who will be the decision-maker in the NSC House of Representatives faction, Van Vroonhoven is resolute: ‘No, there is no need to call Enschede every time. I am now the chairman of the group. And I absolutely have the mandate.’
To underline his position, Van Vroonhoven says that he is now also part of the application group of the four faction leaders of the governing parties. As of Wednesday morning, the exclusive members of the application group were Geert Wilders (PVV), Dilan Yesilgöz (VVD), Van der Plas and Omtzigt.
The latter has already left, says Van Vroonhoven. “And now I have been added.” The coalition partners must therefore deal with her from now on, he says firmly.
According to Van Vroonhoven, the advice Omtzigt gives from Enschede should be interpreted more as “some loose ends in his head that he needs to get rid of, but otherwise he really needs to switch off for a while.” It is therefore not certain that Omtzigt will contribute his contribution during next week’s General Political Considerations. During the most important political debate of the year, the party leader traditionally gives his opinion on the government’s plans for the coming year.
NSC emergency meeting
On Wednesday night, the NSC faction met in an emergency session to discuss generally how to proceed, but also to discuss this important debate next week. ‘I said, guys, this is going to be one team effort“You are all experts in your own area of policy, so feed me,” says Van Vroonhoven.
Since Thursday morning he has been “cleaning up” his office, that is, “absorbing all the information for the next debate.”
This will be necessary, because Van Vroonhoven may have many years of service as a member of parliament (he was in the CDA faction for many years), but he has no experience as a party leader. Moreover, this is the first time that the NSC is taking part in this important debate and Van Vroonhoven has hardly any time to prepare.
“It’s not an easy task,” he says of his baptism by fire. “We are a middle-of-the-road party.” He therefore expects “criticism from both sides” of the political spectrum.
Pieter’s broad back
There are now many files on which NSC is at odds with the opposition. Take asylum policy as an example: quite a few mayors are baffled now that the cabinet has decided to no longer offer bread for sleeping and bathing to asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies. The left-wing opposition is also upset about the unclear nitrogen level: it causes even more delays in the construction of housing.
And then there are also disagreements between the NSC and its own coalition. For example, the NSC and the PVV clash over Middle East and Palestinian policy.
Van Vroonhoven will have to do everything he can to stay afloat next week. Guidance is also needed to manage relations within his own party and in the coalition.
“I guess it’s temporary,” Van Vroonhoven said again on Thursday. She currently feels “calm,” “very focused” and also blessed with a “very good team of people” around her. “We have to prove that we can do it without Pieter’s broad back for a while.”