Students in power

PvdA, SP, GroenLinks, D66, ChristenUnie and the Stadspartij all have at least one student among their candidates standing for election. Only VVD and SGP have none. GroenLinks and D66 have particularly strong student representation; their candidate lists each include three students. The CDA has one PhD candidate aiming for a seat. In total ten students will compete for a seat on the council, and one PhD candidate.

This is a considerable increase on the last time around, says Carina Nieuwenweg, first-year student of Molecular Life Sciences, and fifth on the PvdA’s candidate list. Carina believes that more and more students are feeling a civic responsibility, partly because of the crisis. ‘They are getting involved in politics, and want to do something.’ She is also noticing that the Wageningen parties feel that students are a group among which there are gains to be made. ‘They have seen how Peter Veldman, now a municipal council member for D66, has focused successfully on students.’

Peter Veldman, currently the only student on the council, thinks that the increase in the number of students is indeed due to the good results achieved by D66. In addition, he believes, contacts between the municipality and students have improved. ‘The Student Council has emerged as a strong partner in dialogue and as a lobbying force. This has prompted political parties to start actively approaching students.’

Peter is pleased that there are soon likely to be more students occupying the plush council seats. ‘More students or young people can invigorate politics.’