Platform Storm and Tegenwind Veenkoloniën, two activist organisations opposed to developing wind turbines in the north, are considering joining forces to create a new national political party.
Jan Nieboer, the spokesperson for Platform Storm, told RTV Drenthe that the new party would be called Drents Gronings Belang (Drents Gronings Interest). “The idea was born from the extreme frustration that is being felt here. We thought that we were living in a democratic nation with representatives elected to represent us, but it feels like we just have to fend for ourselves.”
Nieboer asserts that the lot of Groningers and Drenthe residents is more or less ignored in the Dutch Parliament, and the party’s priority is to represent northern political issues and interests. However, the idea to start a political party is in its infancy, and it remains unclear how much momentum there actually is among the general public for such a party. There are currently 13 national parties that are represented in the Dutch parliament, which relies on coalition cooperation to govern.
Police custody
Over the summer, Nieboer was held in police custody for six weeks on suspicion of involvement with having sent threatening letters to business owners and politicians connected to the wind turbine plans in the north. Two other suspects were also taken into custody in recent months.
In addition to the letters, other threats believed to have been made by anti-wind turbine activists include spreading asbestos at the Delfzijl train station and near the planned site of a nitrogen plant in Meeden. In 2018, the Dutch National Anti-Terrorism and Safety Coordinator warned of the likelihood of “wind turbine terrorism” from groups opposed to construction of wind farms in the region.
