SCP Warns Politicians Against Empty Election Promises

The necessity of a leadership that is both pragmatic and trustworthy
The need for a government that can really address issues and come up with 'roll up your sleeves' solutions was also highlighted by SCP researcher Willem Huijnk. In a statement to all political parties, the SCP said:

“It is always the temptation during elections to promise a lot more than we can deliver. But it will simply compound the already-low trust in politics.”

There are growing divisions between different groups in society, and the aggressive tone often witnessed in political debates has not helped build trust, the agency added.

The SCP expressed the fear that people have become too disconnected from those from different sections of society and that the long-term neglect of regions such as eastern Groningen, southern Limburg, and the poorer parts of Rotterdam has continued.

Audit Office Echoes SCP’s Concerns
Only last week the national audit office added its voice to calls for more honest political pledges. It called on parties to make their election plans affordable and achievable.

For the first time, a written warning, specifically addressed to political parties, was formulated by the audit office warning parties of “wishful thinking” that results in impractical coalition agreements.

Pieter Duisenberg, head of the audit office, warned of the peril of implementing government plans based on “fantasy solutions that sound nice in an election programme but do not prove feasible in practice”.

Both organizations have already made it clear that it is time to move to honest and workable proposals to rebuild political trust.