Johan Remkes receives Machiavelli prize for role in nitrogen crisis

ANPJohan Remkes

NOS News•today, 07:00•Edited today, 07:22

This year’s Machiavelli Prize goes to Johan Remkes, the jury has announced. He receives the prize for his role in the nitrogen crisis.

The Machiavelli Prize is awarded for the most outstanding achievement in the field of public communication. During the nitrogen crisis, Remkes managed to reach an agreement in a conflict that seemed deadlocked.

According to the jury report, Remkes “knows how to bind and move people with a sharp eye on the content and at the same time a warm feeling for the sentiment present”.

“The Remkes factor, which is about communication,” the report continues. “Johan Remkes connects parties and knows how to restart a stalled dialogue. With an eye for the differences between the mindsets in politics in The Hague and the daily practice of the farmers”.

Sober setup

The jury also praises Remkes’ clear use of language and down-to-earth attitude. “Sending with authority, but also receiving. Knowing when to talk, to listen and when to be silent. All of this has been crucial to pull the nitrogen dossier out of the doldrums. And to give desperate farmers some perspective and confidence again. offer.”

Chairwoman Marja Wagenaar of the Machiavelli Foundation will present the prize this afternoon in The Hague.

It is the 34th time that the prize has been awarded. Last year, the Machiavelli Prize went to weatherman Gerrit Hiemstra for providing insight into climate change and its consequences for a wide audience. The year before, virologist Marion Koopmans and intensivist Diederik Gommers received the prize for their efforts to make scientific knowledge about the corona virus accessible.

Johan Remkes presented his report after months of mediation on October 5:

Remkes presents recommendations: ‘The only way is to restore nature’

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