Interview with DWARSe candidate Jeroen Bart #5

You have decided: This time you are going to vote for a young person. One who can bring change to the province of Utrecht with a fresh perspective. (Or you're just interested of course ;)) But for whom? Don't panic! In the coming period, we will be interviewing all DWARSe candidates (=young candidates on GroenLinks's list) in the province of Utrecht. In this interview, you can read more about Suzanne Vrielink and why she is a candidate.

Who are you and where are you from?

My name is Jeroen Bart, 27, and I am a born and bred native of Utrecht.

Why are you running for the Provincial Assembly elections?

It's a terrible cliché, but a better world starts with yourself. And then this is a great way to commit to that.

What do you do in daily life?

My love for helping others is also reflected in my daily life; I work at the Ministry of Health in The Hague. Here, I mainly deal with international cooperation in the field of health. Besides my work, I really enjoy playing sports and going to performances in TivoliVredenburg.

Have you done anything in politics before?

My job is already quite political, of course, but in addition to that I have been actively involved in GroenLinks for a year and a half. In Brussels, I helped with meetings and at the last municipal elections I was a Content Officer for the campaign team in Utrecht.

Have you had a political passion for a long time?

Yes. From a young age, I followed politics closely and found debating at school one of the most fun things to do. Above all, I love politics because it is about the really important things: how do we ensure that as many people as possible can have a nice life, not only now, but also in the future? How do you leave the world just a little bit nicer than how you found it? That drives me in my daily life and has thus also drawn me towards politics.

Why is GroenLinks the party for you?

You can also find a bit of the answer to this above, but GroenLinks's core values are also my own: a fair chance of a beautiful life for everyone, with an eye for nature and sustainability. I also think it is very important that we have an eye for the beautiful diversity of the Netherlands; we are a progressive and liberal country, but in order to really make everyone feel at home here and achieve true equality between men and women, we can certainly still take steps. That is what I hope to work for together with this fine party.

Who is your great role model?

Someone for whom I have a lot of respect is Bas Eickhout, our European list leader. He is very strong on content and yet gets a lot done from a small Green group in the European Parliament. I hope to do just as well in the Provincial Council.

Which issues do you think are most important in this election?

Utrecht is a beautiful province, but in the field of renewable energy we do not score very well at the moment. This election can ensure that we in Utrecht can now really take steps in the field of wind and solar energy. I also think it is very important that we protect Utrecht's beautiful nature and walking areas. Sufficient housing is also an important issue in our province. That is why we should look at the possibilities offered by existing buildings and, when building new housing, ensure that it is sustainable and affordable.

Why are these elections so important?

We really cannot wait any longer to take action to make our country more sustainable and combat climate change. These elections give us the opportunity to do this not only in Utrecht, but also in national politics. After all, the Provincial Councils elect the Upper House and with a strong GroenLinks faction there, we can hold Rutte III to account and ensure that the government keeps an eye on a fair, sustainable future:a future with an eye on people, not multinationals.

What do you want to do for young people this election?

Already during the campaign, I hope to get young people more involved in the Provincial Council. To this end, we will campaign at De Uithof, in the city centre and wherever we can reach young people. Currently, the Provincial Councils are a relatively old and invisible governing body. With our nice young group, I hope we will bring the necessary freshness and renewal to the Provincial Council. So I particularly want to mean something to young people after the elections! But for that, we need your help.

How do you plan to reach/engage citizens/young people more in provincial politics?

I think it is important to increase the visibility of provincial politics. We do this by visiting people not only during the elections, but also outside them and asking what they think is important. That way, you keep the lines between politics and citizens shorter. It is also important to actively involve citizens in developing the province: what kind of housing do we really need? Where can we best get started with sustainable energy generation? It is important that citizens have a say in this process, and so we as a province should actively seek people out.

If you had to sum up all your plans in one sentence, what would that sentence be?

A more sustainable and fairer Utrecht for all!

What are your plans, should you not get elected?

Should I not be elected, I will remain committed to the Netherlands through my job at the ministry and remain active at GroenLinks to pursue my ideals! And maybe you will see me again in a subsequent election 😉

What is your favourite animal?

I think orang-utans are amazing! Unfortunately, they are threatened with extinction in the wild;another reason to do my very best for Green Left.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I love guitar music immensely, so I cannot resist making a fool of myself every now and then by shamelessly air-guitaring across the room!