Thread by @fleroy1974

Situation in the #Netherlands: while #FarmerProtests are blocking the country, #WEF-linked ruling parties are collapsing. Out of nowhere: Farmer-Citizen Movement becoming 2nd party in the polls.

#boerenprotest #boereninopstand #boeren #boerenacties🧑‍🌾🇳🇱🚜
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_p…

https://twitter.com/BernieSpofforth/status/1543918028529844226

Rutte, current prime minister - ex-Unilever 🤨
Kraag, deputy prime minister - ex-Shell 🤔
weforum.org/agenda/authors…
weforum.org/agenda/authors…

"the #WEF announced the European Food Innovation Hub will be established in Wageningen [leading Dutch agri-food university] Rutte announced that the Netherlands will host the Global Coordinating Secretariat of the Food Innovation Hubs"
wur.nl/en/newsarticle…

Also on Wageningen's university campus: Unilever's "Global Foods Innovation Centre".
As shown above, Mark Rutte joined Unilever in 1992 on graduating, and remained there for two decades.
hive.unilever.com/news-and-event…

All these examples, added to the agricultural policy developments, post-pandemic frustrations & economic crisis, are creating a disconnect between the government & the rural Netherlands. If the centre left/right will not fundamentally change, the Dutch are in for some rough times

Given the current polls, the BBB may as well become the 1st party. Some ultraright parties are also preparing to fill the vacuum. Street protests may intensify. Food supply may become a major issue. Repression may cause further agitation. The government may fall. And then what?

I suppose a lot depends on *how* this will play out: will the protesting farmers gain more sympathy & further accelerate the electoral dynamics shown in my first tweet, or will the public turn against them because of the discomfort their actions will create.