Jetten heads for the success of the mayor's appointment

Rob Jetten's anointing words were meant to "reassure" the Senate. He "shares the concerns" of the senators. Mr Jetten, president of the D66 in the House of Representatives last month, defended his law in the Senate on Tuesday, drawing the mayors' nomination for the Constitution. And the constitutional changes, the Senate is nervous about it.

There was some question as to whether the senators of the coalition partners, VVD (13 seats) and CDA (12 seats), would accept plan D66 next week – even though both parties were in the running. representatives room. In addition to the GSP (2 seats), which is subject to opposition in principle, the PvdA (8 seats) and the fraction of the independent Senate (1 seat) should also vote against. Now, it seems certain that the proposal succeeds, not least because the four coalition parties in the Senate have put forward a joint motion to ensure the independence of the mayor in the future.

Jettens had reassured the Senate by promising him that it "is not even for that heavy presidential mayor", who can dismiss aldermen at home with his own political agenda. The city council should also remain the supreme body of local government. "This change in the Constitution does not change anything," said Jetten.

CDA Senator Ton Rombouts, very critical at the beginning of the debate, was "pleasantly surprised". He acknowledged that the CDA had to make a shift: in 2015, the party in the Senate, and then in the opposition, was against the constitutional amendment. But now, Rombouts dares to do this, especially because its coalition partners support his motion that, even if the appointment of the mayor may change, it must remain "independent and impartial" and "binding director of all citizens."

The abolition of the appointment of the mayor of the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in both houses. It then becomes possible to change something with ordinary majorities in the way mayors are appointed. Since the beginning of the century, candidates have a habit of writing candidacy letters, after which city councils designate a candidate and the Crown officially names them

Most parties are satisfied, but the question also arises for some parties or for the choice of the Crown in the Constitution.

The D66's long-standing desire for a more direct democracy, including the appointment of mayors, seemed to be granted when the law reached the coalition agreement. of Rutte III, in exchange for the abolition of the consultative referendum.

At the beginning of the debate, Jetten received the support of unusual friends: senators from the opposition. PVV Senator Alexander van Hattem described his proposal as a "historic step". 50Plus celebrity Jan Nagel also supported Jetten. "We are in favor of direct democracy and have no difficulty in pronouncing it."

This was a sting to Senator D66, Hans Engels, who clearly supports the Constitutional Amendment of Jettens but does not want to burn his hands. mayors elected. He did not want to "take a lead" on a discussion about it. He still remembers how a proposal by the then D66 minister, Thom de Graaf, failed in 2005 because the party wanted to amend the constitution at the same time and hold direct elections.

Main Opponents

D66 Minister of the Interior Kajsa Ollongren pointed out that "due to the constitutional amendment," in principle nothing changes to the current method of appointment ". She even called a change of "unlikely". The Cabinet will not present me such a plan: within the coalition, there is only D66 for the mayor chosen by the population.

Jettens' political allies in the coalition have somewhat maintained tension. Among the VVDs are opponents, even "a number of people of principle," said Senator Helmi Huijbregts. Within the group, we refer in particular to Ankie Broekers, President of the Chamber. "We can formally oppose this, but the question is whether it can be moral," said a VVD member in the corridors. "This proposal was exchanged for the abolition of the referendum, a jewel of the crown that has washed its own minister." In addition, in 2005 and 2015, the VVD agreed to abolish the crown's mandate. Huijbregts also requested a letter to Ollongren with his "vision on the organization of local government and on the duties and powers of the mayor". This will come this week and only then will the VVD make a "final assessment".

Meanwhile, the corridors were busy. Also because the Party for Animals (2 seats) announced that it wanted to impose a roll call vote. This means that all senators must vote in person rather than in groups. If she sees fit (read Rob Jetten, a blue eye can do it), the PvdD also intends to vote against the law despite its previous support.

That would mean that there could always be 11 senators from the VVD and the CDA, without the proposal being repealed.