Throwback Wednesday: Jarno van Straaten

Summer has arrived - a great time to look back at past political year. A year with, as always, many new experiences, debates and long conversations. And a year with 3 elections, for the Provincial Council, the Water Boards and the European Parliament.

I had the honour of standing as a candidate for GroenLinks Overijssel in the state elections this year. I don't think I have ever had to explain so many times to people what a political tier of government does. No, States are not boring, and no, I am not allowed to stand in the States (yet) and yes, I am allowed to stand as a candidate - quoting the Electoral Act has really become my thing.

I was not the only youngster on a list. In Utrecht, DWARS veteran Jens Bosman (then 16, number 16) was on the list for GroenLinks, in Brabant Matt Kanters (then also 16, number 12) on behalf of the PvdD and in Zeeland a 16-year-old was on the CDA list. It is good to see lists rejuvenating. The centuries-long power monopoly of the old, white, conservative man is beginning to come to an end - and rightly so. You don't solve today's problems with the thinking of the day before yesterday.

My candidacy led to some media attention: the Stentor reported on me several times, and ran with me on election day. The fact that the Stentor (AD) wrote about me was of course very useful in regional elections. I was also allowed to tell about myself in the Volkskrant. This elicited a lot of nice reactions from acquaintances and strangers alike, and the usual reactions from keyboard knights who were convinced I was an indoctrinated left-wing juvenile. Don't blame them.

Surely campaigning is more fun when you get to tell people you are a candidate yourself. Engaging people in politics is the most important thing about taking to the streets. Activating, convincing, raising awareness. That is why I am very pleased with the turnout campaigns that have been conducted, especially for the European Parliament.

Then followed election night. All kinds of political leaders gathered in the 12 county halls. One exit poll after another followed. In the end, GroenLinks Overijssel scored a monster victory: from 2 to 5 in one of the most conservative provinces in the Netherlands. Personally, I gained 203 votes. That may not be much compared to others, but when you know from 8 people that they are going to vote for you, every extra vote is a small gift. My main goal is to try to be there for voters, offer a face and listen to concerns, without heavy-handedness or false promises.

I still don't really know what to make of the result. GroenLinks more than doubled, but the Labour Party and SP lost, the coalition lost less than expected and the far right won first place with a campaign of disinformation, white supremacy and sexism. The slackness of GroenLinks on this is very much against me. Klaver congratulated Baudet, no one dared to exclude FvD (resulting in a far-right college in Limburg and months of formations) and climate denial and racism were suddenly elevated to a ‘signal from the voter’. Legitimising such political poison paves the way for more racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, LGBTQIAP+ phobia and anti-democratic ideas. I therefore distance myself from all congratulations and collaborations from GroenLinks to/with FvD and PVV and always will.

Many ‘rainbow coalitions’ followed after 20 March. GroenLinks, if negotiations in South Holland go well, governs in eight of the 12 provinces. Four-party coalitions are hardly to be found anymore, resulting in tolerated constructions (Gelderland) and six-party formations (Groningen, Flevoland). Unfortunately, GroenLinks failed to secure a coalition seat in Overijssel. The group has been constructive, but has also kept its back straight. I respect that. As icing on the cake, GroenLinks Deventer's section chair, Cora Smelik, became deputy for sustainability and the environment in Flevoland.

I hope that all the political developments of recent times will lead to more participation, especially from young people. The climate protests show that we want to secure our future. At the same time, we see the coalition fiddling a bit with shorter showers, electric driving and continuing gas extraction and putting the bill on the citizen. This again reminds us that greening cannot be done without levelling up. The big polluters and great powers may, nay, must clean up their own mess and pay for the climate crisis. This is fundamental for ‘support’, a word that is becoming more of an excuse for doing nothing.

Am I being cynical? Maybe you are. But doing nothing changes nothing. Together with everyone who believes in green, social and progressive politics, we will continue. Further for a fair country. At DWARS and other youth movements, I see how positive and constructive we can be if we work together enough. That gives tremendous hope for the future.

I end this political year by thanking everyone who helped me achieve successes this year, big or small. And I am also closing with a candidacy: next year I would like to join DWARS Overijssel as political secretary and vice-chairman. For questions or comments, you can (almost) always reach me.

I wish everyone the best of luck in the coming year!