GroenLinks gets a board position intended for the VVD in Amsterdam South
Rocco Piers (51) is to become the district manager on behalf of GroenLinks. He has also held this role for Piers for the past four years: “I am happy to be able to start again for the city and for Amsterdam South. Working together on a greener, more sustainable and more social district, I see that as my assignment.”
His appointment came about with great difficulty. The place in South was initially ‘awarded’ to the VVD, coalition parties PvdA, GroenLinks and D66 decided in June, in the context of ‘broad political representation’. That was an experiment, because as a rule the coalition parties govern in order to properly implement the coalition agreement.
The VVD also liked the experiment and pushed Stijn Nijssen forward. But where the top of the parties thought it was a good idea, it went less well with district committee members of the PvdA, GroenLinks and the VVD. They did not believe that a VVD director in a district could implement policy from the Stopera and give a negative advice about the arrival of Nijssen.
As a result, the VVD can be withdrawn. Nijssen said he was disappointed in his party members and PvdA party leader Marjolein Moorman: the whole issue was an ’embarrassing display’. “It was an experiment, of course, and I thought it was commendable that the VVD dared to do it. But there was division, also with us.”
almost final
After Nijssen bounced off, it was obvious that Piers would be pushed forward again. He was already a director and it was known that he would like to continue for another term – and the other two directors are from D66 (Bart Vink) and PvdA (Flora Breemer). All coalition parties provide one administrator in each city district.
However, the past few months have also been uncertain for Piers, he knows. Piers: “I never took it personally that they offered the VVD a place. That was just a choice and I waited for them to call on me. It was a special time, but I’m glad things are settled now.”
On Wednesday, committee members from South will give advice on his nomination and next Wednesday it will be up to the city council to definitively agree. Completely definitive is not therefore not, although it seems this time not this time.