VVD party chairman Frans de Graaf thinks he has found a good successor for Revis in Mulder. ‘Anne has experience with the Hague VVD, with politics and, as a resident of Scheveningen, is familiar with our city.’ The department chair of the VVD in The Hague, Petra Ginjaar, states that she is delighted with the choice for Mulder. ‘Anne loves the city, is experienced in the council and the House of Representatives and someone who converts his social interest into results. As he himself says: “politics is about being street wise and using your common sense”. And that is exactly what our city needs. ‘
Anne Mulder (Hoogeveen, December 14, 1969) was a councilor in The Hague from 2002 to 2010. For the last four years he has been group chairman. Afterwards the liberal switched to national politics. Mulder announced in February of this year that he intended to step down as a Member of Parliament after the next elections because he would have served ten years in parliament. “I think that’s enough,” he said in the radio program 1 on 1.
Srebrenica
Mulder served in Dutchbat III as a conscripted soldier. He went to Srebrenica on a voluntary basis. And saw how Bosnian Serb soldiers took over the enclave. It led to the murder of 8,000 people. It signed him. A day after the fall of Srebrenica, Bosnian Serb officers arrived at the camp. I never expected people to be killed. I only heard that later. You saw the fear in people. You just smelled the terror. The smell. Everything ‘, he said in an interview with the NOS, for example.
His experiences there also made him decide to enter politics. ‘The Dutch government and the House of Representatives were so naive in the early 1990s.’ As a Member of Parliament, he said, he is therefore extra vigilant about decision-making during military missions.
Time
At the end of his period in local politics, Mulder wrote a book with tips for new councilors: ‘Chosen! And now..?’ One of the things he warns about is that councilors often don’t realize how much time politics takes. ‘Debates in election time, neighborhood walks to talk to increasingly articulate residents, folder and read, a lot of reading.’
As far as Mulder is concerned, a municipal councilor must above all know what he wants with his city or village. ‘If you miss that’ drive ‘, you shouldn’t get started. You have to feel involved, have a heart for the city. ‘ He advises anyone who loves his town or village to take the council. ‘In addition to all the work, it is just great fun, you are there yourself where things go. Besides, you get nice invitations every now and then. ‘
As a councilor he opposed, among other things, the hour-long debates in The Hague’s town hall. ‘The length of the meeting (quantity) is often inversely related to the quality. In the late hours everyone is less sharp and the meetings are not more attractive to the public. Prospective councilors also scratch their heads once more before they get involved in local politics. ‘
Forestry Commission
The Hague VVD had to looking for a new alderman because Boudewijn Revis is stepping down. He will become director of site management and development at Staatsbosbeheer on 1 October. Revis is still responsible for finance, urban development and the Scheveningen district in its portfolio.
The announcement of his departure in early July was totally unexpected. But according to Revis himself there was a logic behind it. ‘There is a new coalition, an adopted budget and the new mayor has taken office. There is now enough time to think about my succession, ‘he stated at the time. ‘I realize that this position is limited in time. A year ago, in the summer of 2019, I decided to start thinking about my future. ‘ That thinking eventually led to the decision to look for a new job.
Revis is currently the longest-serving councilor in The Hague and has also been active in local politics for a long time. For example, he was a member of the city council from October 2008 to November 2012 with a short break. In June 2010 he was elected group chairman. In November 2012 he was then installed as an alderman for the municipality of The Hague. The first period he did finance and urban management. From 2014 to 2018 he had the portfolios inner city, urban development core areas and outdoor space.
Tough job
If the intended successor of Revis gets the same wallet, a tough job awaits him. For example, the city is in financial trouble. The reserves are running low Due to the corona crisis, the municipality is unexpectedly spending a lot extra. A report is also expected after the summer from the Court of Audit in The Hague on the construction of the Amare cultural palace on Spuiplein.
The profile that the Hague VVD had drawn up for a new alderman stated that the candidate must have ‘demonstrable experience’ in public administration. He or she should also have mastered the administrative and political aspects of the profession, as well as experience in finance, spatial planning, urban development, security and public order. Furthermore, he or she had to have a sharp analytical ability, charisma and appearance.
Agree
In the end, fourteen people applied. Allegedly, five were actually allowed to come for an interview in recent days. The Hague city council still has to approve the appointment of Mulder as alderman in The Hague. This is expected to happen in the council meeting on 17 September. Then Revis also officially says goodbye. Mulder lives with his wife and daughter on Scheveningen.
As has recently become customary in The Hague, there will also be an integrity scan from Mulder. “It starts tomorrow,” said party leader De Graaf.
READ ALSO: Departure in style of Boudewijn Revis gives the VVD the space to quietly look for a successor
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