ISLAMABAD: The Netherlands on Thursday woke up to a political earthquake as a farmers’ protest party won key polls. As a result of which the government’s environmental policies have been left on shaky grounds.
The upstart Farmer-Citizen Movement (BoerBurgerBeweging) or BBB is on course to be the biggest party in the Dutch senate with 15 seats. The BBB was set up just four years ago.
The party masterminded a number of protests against initiatives by Prime Minister Mark Rutte‘s ruling coalition to reduce nitrogen emissions by slashing livestock numbers and possibly shutting farms.
Dutch regional vote shapes up parliament’s upper house
The Dutch protests garnered worldwide attention and reaped global support, including from former US president Donald Trump along with a host of far-right figures.
As the results emerged over the course of the night, BBB leader Caroline van der Plas stated that the electorate has made its “voices heard, and how”. She added that the ruling coalition should take this very seriously.
Wednesday’s Dutch regional elections — which are significant as they determine the shape of parliament’s upper house — saw the BBB win the most votes in 9 of the country’s 12 provinces, according to final results on Thursday.
A number of Dutch newspapers termed it a “monster victory”.
The daily De Telegraaf headline said “Kabbboem” – the sound of an explosion and a play on the party’s name.
