BBB senator Kemperman surprised fraction with departure, but dissatisfaction with course is wider

It has been restless for months in BBB’s sixteen -member chamber fraction. BBB’ers often talked about it: it would not surprise them if senators left the group. The name of Eric Kemperman did not often fall in those conversations. Yet on Monday evening he announced that he is leaving the group in the Senate, and in the Provincial States of Gelderland. He continues in both places as a one -man fraction.

Eric Kemperman (60) says on Tuesday afternoon in a room of the Senate that he started to feel less and less at home in the BBB group. He thinks differently than the party position. He is, among other things, about « issues of war and peace, » such as Ukraine and Gaza. « I have literally written in my internal explanation: » I don’t look in a body bag. It’s not about what race, color or faith is in it. I think we’ve been much too warlike in Ukraine. We, the West. But we, my party. And therefore also the cabinet we make a part of.  »

Kemperman often felt sympathy for the ideas of FVD, but felt more at home at BBB, where he could reach more

It has been noticeable in the party for some time that Kemperman deviates from the party with views on Ukraine. More than a year ago he gave an interview The other newspaperan alternative medium that was established in 2018 to tell stories that the ‘mainstream media’ would withhold. It is often about the Coronavirus, Russia and Ukraine. Kemperman said he has the new edition of it every week The other newspaper Spreads among senators. Kemperman felt « often sympathy for the ideas of FVD ». But, he said, he felt more at home at BBB, where he could reach more.

Sensitive loss

BBB is by far the greatest power factor in the Senate. The party achieved a crushing election victory in 2023, in the middle of the nitrogen crisis. Because States members choose the Senate members, the party got sixteen seats there. Yet the coalition of PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB does not have a majority in the Senate. The coalition must convince other groups for each budget or bill. That is why Kemperman’s departure is a sensitive loss.

Eric Kemperman says he tried to « very often » discuss the war in Ukraine in the group. But that was always « put on the long track. » « I often said: stop with that extra money and that weapons, and that warlike rhetoric. Take the word ‘peace’ in the mouth. Look at how it tastes, how it tastes. But that should never be. That conversation is far too little. »

According to Kemperman, his departure can be ‘no surprise’. He had already told the party board two months ago and told to party leader in the Senon Ilona Lagas that he wanted to get out of the group. In the May recess he made the final decision. On Monday evening, the sixteen -person Senate kept a dinner in a restaurant on the square in The Hague. There he wanted to communicate it to the group by reading a written explanation. That was only possible after dinner, but then Kemperman had to go to the States of Gelderland. That’s why he wanted to share the statement. « That was no longer possible, because I was immediately thrown out of all app groups. » He has now sent the statement to all party members by e -mail.

Kemperman consciously retains his seat, he says. « I consciously opted for politics a few years ago. Caroline appealed to me, the sober, rural thinking, learning jacket. I have invested a lot in this, I have sold my company. My work here is not finished. That’s why I will continue. »

Seat

Once before, Kemperman came in the news nationwide. That was last year, then NRC written That the Senator had submitted dozens of parliamentary questions about the Affordable Rent Act, which were actually drawn up by the Association of Private Landlords Real Estate Belang. He said about that: « I might be a little apolitical in the competition. »

That Kemperman takes his seat with me, Ilona Lagas thinks « not neat »

There the freedom that the senators get from their party leader. This plays especially with asylum and migration. A small group of Senate MPs thinks the policy of the cabinet is too hard, and believes that BBB has become too right. Kemperman did not belong to that group. Some people also find that they get too little room from the party leader, and that Ilona Lagas listens too much to what Caroline van der Plas wants, the political leader of BBB. Internally it is not excluded that other senators will also leave prematurely one day, for example if the asylum laws of Minister Marjolein Faber (PVV) are treated.

Ilona Lagas is surprised by Eric Kemperman’s departure, she says in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon. At most, she had « had a conversation » about Kemperman’s doubts. « I received a letter, but I have not been able to read it yet. He wanted to explain it yesterday, but we were in a restaurant and I couldn’t go anywhere. But that doesn’t matter. It is Erics choice, and we have to accept it. »

Lagas thinks that Kemperman takes his seat with them. « We had agreed not to do it, everyone said that in full conviction, but he is entitled to it. »

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