Ninety percent of the Dutch population supports the farmers’ protests against the government’s nitrogen plans. At least, that percentage can regularly be read on the protest signs that are hung on the tractors of protesting farmers. Where does that percentage come from? And is that correct?
It is not entirely clear where the percentage of ninety percent support for the farmers’ protests comes from. What is certain is that the same percentage was already mentioned in reports about the demonstrations in 2019.
“The outcome of our latest research indicates that it is certainly not ninety percent, but that almost half (45 percent) are behind the farmers’ protests. In October of last year it was still 38 percent,” says researcher Asher van der Schelde. from I&O Research. The agency carried out research on behalf of Trouw.
“Many people do think that the bill is placed too much on the farmers.”
According to Van der Schelde, many people are concerned about nature and nitrogen emissions. “They do have the feeling that the bill is very much left to the farmers. And not to aviation or industry. People think that is unjust and that leads to more support.”
“The support may fall after the visit to the minister’s house.”
The support for the protesting farmers mainly comes from parties such as FvD, BBB, PVV, SGP and Ja21. The farmers receive seventy to ninety percent support for their actions among those who vote for these parties. “Political preference certainly plays a role.”
I&O Research regularly conducts research. “The support for the farmers’ actions may be lower after the visit to Minister Van der Wal’s house in the next investigation. But that is speculation.”
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