Picture: an unsigned document from two years ago. Did they sign it? We don’t know.…
There is obviously a big gray area to what exactly is democratic, but it might involve letting people freely support a party of their liking. Student party VeSte is trying to stretch this definition a bit, by letting student associations sign a contract that forces them to support VeSte. If not, they cut them off from valuable information.
In a document that a student association received, they state that every association signing the contract is expected to provide at least one list pusher. This list pusher should be a board member and ‘preferably the chair’.
VeSte does not support all student interests. They will support you, if you support them.
Also the associations are required to have ‘an open attitude’ toward VeSte promotion and are expected to not ‘actively include other student parties’ . In return VeSte vows to support their interest.
So, unlike what you’d might expect of a political party, VeSte does not support all student interest. They will support you, if you support them. And you’re not allowed to listen to other parties! they might convince you… with arguments!
Student associations sign a contract that forces them to support VeSte.
Moreover, the practice of requiring list pushers of the student associations, reduces the ‘democratic elections’ to a who-knows-who: some kind of aristocratic politics completely based on connections. It becomes a kind of politics that does not require you to think, to have actual stances or arguments, it only requires you to have friends.
Compare that to national politics. It is like you would have to first sign a contract with the VVD in order to get a tax cut, or that you would first have to share a fb promotion of PvdA before receiving your rent subsidy. I guess that would be weird?
You’re not allowed to listen to other parties! they might convince you… with arguments!
If we take a look at the VeSte candidates of this year, it seems that most student associations agreed to this strange deal. We see list pushers that are board members of KSV, Ceres, Unitas, SSR-W and other associations. It’s good to know that their interests are protected.
Let’s hope they care about democracy too.