Christianne van der Wal

Biography

“Refusing to sit idly by”

My main principles are that everyone should be able to take part in society, that work should pay off, that we should protect our planet, that we are all equal, that people should not be pigeonholed, and that people are strong creatures. Those were the principles that drove me to enter politics back in the day, because if you have strong opinions, you should not sit idly by.

Politics is a craft

I am now a former councillor, alderman, member of the provincial executive, party chair and minister, so I know all too well that politics is a craft. First and foremost, you need to be a good listener. After all, your duty is to serve the voters. At the same time, you have to make sure that promising new plans are actually feasible and stay true to yourself and your own opinions.

Keep an eye on the big picture

Every year, I take some time during the summer and at Christmas to write down my political goals for the next six months. It helps me to keep an eye on the big picture and means I do not get bogged down in details.

Support

As a politician, not all decisions you make are popular, and when the time comes to make a tough call, you have to be able to explain why. Fostering support for difficult but necessary decisions will prove crucial as we enter a period of scarcity in which choices will have to be made.