At first, animal protection organisations responded somewhat hesitantly when we established the Party for the Animals. Indeed, with their lobby activities they sought to influence all political parties and wished to remain politically neutral. They feared that the arrival of an animal welfare party on the scene would mean that the other political parties would ultimately end up leaving animal welfare entirely up to that one party.
In practice, things turned out rather differently. The function of pacemaker, which we had for ourselves in mind, worked right away. Instead of leaving animal welfare up to us, the other political parties immediately sought to convince the animal-friendly electorate that they could safely give their vote to them.
Animal protection organisations also feared that an animal party would gain too few votes from the electorate. This could create the impression that the Dutch public did not find animal welfare important. These fears, however, also proved unfounded. We now have 12 elected representatives at a national and provincial level.
In January 2008, the Dierenbescherming (Dutch Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) proclaimed our party leader Marianne Thieme ‘Animal Protector of the Year’. The Dierenbescherming’s director spoke with great praise about the fact the Party for the Animals consistently placed the issue of animal welfare on the political agenda, and that we encourage the other political parties to take action when it comes to matters of animal welfare.
15th January 2008: Marianne Thieme is
proclaimed ‘Animal Protector of the Year’
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