PM Rutte drops in on earthquake battered region as Groningen protests visit

Prime Minister Mark Rutte is visiting Groningen on Friday to discuss gas extraction in the province and the many fracking earthquakes it resulted in. His schedule includes talks with people affected by earthquake damage, a dinner and receiving a petition against gas extraction, Dagblad van het Noorden reports.

In Appingedam Rutte will visit a so-called strengthening point set up by the National Coordinator for Groningen. Residents with property damage can visit this point to get their answers about damage claims answered. Action group Schokkend Groningen arranged a protest to meet Rutte when arrived in the town.

The Groninger Bodem Beweging is also protesting. The movement has two seats at the dinner with the Prime Minister, but will leave one of them empty, secretary Dick Kleijer said to the newspaper. "I don't see the point of having a nice dinner wih Rutte while the problems in Groningen are so great. He is the most important representative of a government that is no longer trusted by many. As far as I'm concerned, he has to deal with the issues first and only then make public relations trips through our area."