In the run-up to the (early) House of Representatives elections of November 2023, various issue owners will speak out who are committed to getting important issues on the political agenda. The reason for this series is the growing recognition of the importance of social issues and the active role that various organizations play in influencing policymakers and politicians.

In the sixth and final interview, Sandra Beuving, director of the Support Animal Coalition foundation, speaks. The Animal Coalition is a partnership of seventeen animal protection organizations in the field of political advocacy. The goal of the coalition is to effectively stand up for the interests of animals in important political and social issues. How does this organization ensure attention is paid to their issue during the upcoming elections?

“When you take care of animals, you take care of people. As far as we are concerned, animals should be the theme during these elections.”

Which issues are relevant to your organization in the run-up to the elections?

Our society is confronted with enormous issues and problems. Consider the climate, biodiversity and nitrogen crisis. One of the underlying causes lies in factory farming; where we keep huge numbers of animals crammed into closed stables. These animals live in appalling conditions. If you base the agricultural transition on animal welfare, you will solve all problems integrally.

This also applies to social problems such as loneliness and poverty. Inflation and higher costs mean that more and more people are struggling to provide the proper care that animals need. This is distressing. Especially because animals have such a meaningful role in the lives of so many people; both young and old.

We see the same thing with wild animals. Protecting animals in nature inherently involves a protected living environment for these animals. And that is important for people; After all, nature provides clean air, pure drinking water, food and other products that we need for our existence.

In other words: when you take care of animals, you take care of people. In our opinion, animals should be the theme during these elections.

Do you think that your social issue will be on the political agenda this election period? And are you actively working on this as an organization?

Despite the fact that ensuring good animal welfare contributes to solving so many social problems, this time it is hardly a theme in the campaigns of various political parties. The Animal Coalition has therefore taken matters into its own hands, together with the Animal Protection Society an Animal Debate organized. This was about animal husbandry, caring for animals in times of high costs, helping animals during disasters and living together with the wolf.

In addition, we also had an opinion survey carried out by Kieskompas together with the Animal Protection Organization and compared the results with the positions of the House of Representatives factions. It was surprising that the supporters of almost all political parties, including those of the New Social Contract, believe that we should take more measures for better animal welfare. The results can be found at www.dierenkieswijzer.nl

Has the issue your organization is dealing with received more attention during this election period? And in what way?

Lately we have focused on the elections. Now that these are close, we turn our focus to the time after the elections, namely the formation. More and more political parties are starting to pay attention to the protection and welfare of animals. And this applies to all animals; in livestock farming, nature, the water and the animals in our home.

We therefore expect that the next Coalition Agreement will contain measures that will ensure that a) animals lead a better life, b) offer animals the opportunity to perform natural behavior and c) animals in nature and their living environment are better protected.

What should voters pay attention to if they find your issue and social theme important?

First; by voting!

In these elections, the question also arises whether the voter will vote strategically or vote for the party that is closest to his or her ideals. Given the major social challenges, it is more important than ever that there is a green, progressive coalition. Some then choose to vote strategically. Others prefer to stay with the party they have the most affinity with. Of course, everyone has to make that choice for themselves.

It is also important that the new MPs, regardless of political party, have a heart for animals. We therefore hope that certain MPs who are lower on the list will still enter the House of Representatives with preferential votes.

Whatever choice you make, let it be a voice for the animals.