Caroline van der Plas does not attend farmers’ protest due to threats

Last night Caroline van der Plas told Today Inside she ‘decided not to go to the farmers’ protest in The Hague’. She said that with a deep sigh.

“The Greatest Demo of All Time”

This is a demonstration that was announced a month ago and will take place on Saturday in the Zuiderpark in The Hague. Farmers Defense Force foreman Mark van Den Oever calls the protest “the biggest protest ever”. Not only the opinions of farmers must then be highlighted, but also issues such as the gas crisis and the surcharge case.

FDF wanted to come to The Hague with 5000 tractors, but yesterday it became clear that The Hague only allows two tractors.

Several politicians are present at the demonstration to address the activists. Van der Plas would also have liked to do this. But “a number of things have happened that I don’t feel safe enough to go on stage in such a massive audience right now,” she said.

Security? “unpleasant feeling”

Van der Plas refers to unrest in society which, among other things, leads to dangerous situations for her. There are people who are “convinced that I am bad”, says the politician.

She could possibly call security, but “the very fact that it is necessary makes me feel very unsafe and uncomfortable.”

Continuing threats

More and more politicians denounce the dangerous climate for people who participate in public debate. Last year, a record number of politicians turned themselves in to the police because of threats.

Last summer, nitrogen specialists from VVD and D66 had to decide not to go to a large demonstration by farmers in Stroe because their safety could not be guaranteed, according to the NCTV safety coordinator.