They’re having elections for the parliament back home. In fact, we are having elections, as they sent me a voting card, which I managed to sign and send back to the Netherlands, so my mum will vote on my behalf. I have had an interest in politics from a very young age, when I was having elections among my stuffed animals. (Really. In fact, it took me years to realise that when other children played with their teddy bear, they meant something else.) So it’s kind of strange that the new government’s decisions won’t have an effect on me and also, that it will probably the last time for me to vote for the Netherlands.
(I suppose will keep my Dutch passport, but I don’t really see the point in voting for a country that one hasn’t been living in for years. It seems to be quite a fuss to vote from abroad, too.)
At least there is something to vote for. Last four years, the country has made an effort to get rid of its image of a boring corner of Europe where nothing ever happens. It has worked quite well, it seems, though not sure if the country’s image has really improved. Recently, the government initiated a new law, which forbids people to wear a burqa in public. Given that at most 50, but probably a lot less, people in the whole country wear a burqa, how do they think this is not a sign of muslim fear? Immigration, in general, is quite a big issue in the elections, for which I think the expression one suffers most from the fear of suffering fits quite well. So, for example, refugees have to go back to a country that is dangerous enough for the government to send a troop of soldiers there and do some interrogation. To see an outsider’s point of view, watch the video attached to this BBC News article and judge for yourself (note that they mean The Netherlands when they talk about Holland, an annoying habit most people in the UK have).
But then, I am not a political fighter. I always vote for the same party, a reasonable sideline-party who might make it to the government, one day. One day…
(Harry Potter is the nick-name of the current prime minister, which he didn’t get because of his magical talents. In fact, he is disliked by many for his appearance, which I think is rather stupid. Being socially clumsy, speaking way too fast, not having a girlfriend until late into his life and apparently lacking some leadership-skills, he is quite like me, really. But, believe me, I have better ideas on politics.)
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