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“I have come to the decision to leave the seat to Menno due to three factors. Firstly, I have been very overwhelmed by this result, as I had not expected this given my position on the list. Secondly, a lot of insecurity surrounding my health has arisen as of late. My current health status is not the same as it was during the general member assembly where the list was confirmed. Recently, the assumption of an auto-immune disease has been established, which has severe consequences that I cannot fully oversee at this moment. In the near future, more clarity will emerge about my clinical picture, but not before the 30th of march, when the new municipality council will be sworn in”, according to Anne Lucas. “Lastly, for the functioning of the GroenLinks fraction, it is important that Menno can start working as a council member already on the 30th of march and not only when he moves into the council due to a potential new coalition participation. Despite this decision, however, I am very grateful for the trust that so many voters have given me. It was therefore not an easy decision, and no matter what, I will get to work to do right to this trust.”

Menno Janssen

“The past couple of days were of course an emotional rollercoaster for me, regarding my political future in the council. I am very thankful that I can still get to work on the 30th of March as council member, and, with a lot of passion and effort, am allowed to continue my political work of the past couple of years” according to Menno Janssen. “Simultaneously, I also feel the responsibility that is now resting on my shoulders, to assure that the people who have voted for Anne, and the subsequently attached trust that comes with this, will not be confounded. Together with Anne, I will work to engage in dialogue with these voters, in order to, through their consultation, do right to their vote -content wise and process wise- in the municipality council.”

“With admiration, I have seen Anne come to her decision if she will or will not take the council seat”, according to leading candidate and current wethouder of GroenLinks, Gert-Jan Krabbendam. “I know what kind of moral dilemmas she must have battled with, and how carefully she has come to this decision. This already shows me how much of an asset Anne is to our GroenLinks fraction, and I am looking forward to working together with her in the coming years and to make sure that the voice of our younger population will be heard.”

If GroenLinks, in the upcoming months, will once again take office as coalition party, Gert-Jan Krabbendam is – as already known – candidate-wethouder. In this case, he cannot remain a council member, and is Anne, still, first successor to fill the then vacant council seat. In the next couple of months will Anne take the opportunity to consider filling in this seat. “In principle, my starting point is that then I will accede to the council”, concludes Anne Lucas.