Municipal officials are struggling with people who are a part of a sovereign movement

Municipal officials are struggling with how to handle people who are part of a sovereign movement and use that to turn against the government. Municipalities and civil servants who are in contact with these people need more support and explanations.

Research from the Centre of Expertise for Safety & Resilience of Avans Homeschool shows that this is a diverse group with different ideas. The Minister of Interior Affairs, Judith Uitermark, sent the research to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament.

The researchers emphasized that local work is being done on better handling sovereigns. Yet, they still often find it tricky because sovereigns have many mutual differences.

Some people who see themselves as sovereigns want to keep as much distance from the government as possible but do follow the law. A section of the sovereigns is prepared to use violence.

Researchers see that the “approach to various crises and scandals,” especially the coronavirus crisis, has enlarged feelings of distrust towards the government. Municipal officials must prove themselves to be trustworthy partners. “Do not just point the finger but also try to understand the underlying grievances without normalizing the sovereign way of thinking,” one of the recommendations reads.

In the letter to the Tweede Kamer, Uitermark wrote that it is worrying “that people are dropping out and turning their backs on the government.” She emphasized that the government, together with experts on social stability, is already helping the municipalities.

This help, which is based on “developing and sharing knowledge and offering advice to local issues,” will be expanded in the coming period.