The governing coalition of Groningen Province has collapsed after the Christian Union (ChristenUnie) pulled out of the partnership, citing irreconcilable differences over the development of a controversial wind farm near Eemshaven. The coalition, comprised of parties with varying political platforms, fractured following a critical vote, according to local broadcaster RTV Noord.
The coalition included the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BoerBurgerBeweging, or BBB), a populist party which advocates for rural interests and opposes large-scale environmental projects that impact farmland; the Labor Party (PvdA), a center-left party focused on social justice; the Christian Union (ChristenUnie), a socially conservative party; and Groninger Belang, a regional party that prioritizes local autonomy and community concerns.
Choosing chaos over reliability
The breakup occurred after a vote on the wind farm, a project under development for the past decade. The PvdA and ChristenUnie supported continuing the project, arguing that it was in line with environmental goals and had been planned long before the coalition’s current agreements. In contrast, the BBB and part of Groninger Belang opposed it, viewing the project as detrimental to local agriculture and arguing it violated the coalition’s commitment to block new large-scale wind developments.
After the vote, which revealed a split within the coalition, the Christian Union requested a suspension of proceedings. Following hours of deliberation, ChristenUnie leader Fredric Geijtenbeek announced that his party could no longer support the coalition, accusing some partners of betraying the coalition’s principles.
“We have lost trust in this collaboration because of the divided vote on the wind farm,” Geijtenbeek stated. “Some coalition partners deliberately chose chaos over reliability, disregarding agreed-upon rules.”
Geijtenbeek specifically criticized the BBB and Groninger Belang, accusing them of undermining the credibility of the government by opposing a project that had been in the works for a decade. The Christian Union argued that its core value of reliable governance had been compromised.
“Today, we are parting ways. The Christian Union cannot be part of a government where reliability is inconsistent,” said Geijtenbeek.
Irreconcilable differences
Farmers’ party defends its stance, claiming long-standing wind farm plans threaten rural interests.
Gouke Moes, leader of the BBB faction, responded by pointing to “irreconcilable differences” between the parties on what constitutes a “reliable government” and how past agreements should be interpreted. The BBB, which has gained support from rural communities frustrated with environmental policies, maintained that the project should not move forward, even if it was initiated years ago.
The coalition’s governing agreement had pledged no new large-scale wind farms, but the ChristenUnie and PvdA argued that the Eemshaven project, which had been planned for ten years, did not qualify as “new.” Meanwhile, the BBB contended that long-standing plans should still be reevaluated to reflect the current coalition’s priorities.
Despite last-minute pleas from the PvdA and ChristenUnie for coalition partners to honor the original agreement, the vote remained divided, causing the coalition to collapse.
“We are all going home with the feeling that we have suffered a defeat,” said King’s Commissioner René Paas, who presided over the session. He called for urgent talks among party leaders to discuss the future of Groningen’s governance.
