Claudia van Zanten

Biography

"The government should serve the people, not the other way around"

Before I went to university, I was not sure whether to study politicology, law or film and TV studies. I ended up choosing Film and TV Studies, with a major in television, culture and media studies. After graduating, I worked as a journalist for Elsevier and HP/De Tijd, where I wrote a lot about crime, justice, and politics. Later, I was a police spokesperson and press officer at the Amsterdam Public Prosecutor's Office. It is fair to say that the triad of politics, security, and media has always played an important role in my life.

Listen and cooperate

I am a good listener and a team player who can distinguish main issues from secondary issues. Those traits came in handy in local politics, when I served as BBB group chair in Amsterdam-Zuid. During my time there, I firmly opposed plans for a huge erotic centre in the middle of a residential area. By organising neighbourhood meetings and hearings; listening to local people and business, schools, sex workers and other stakeholders; as well as working with other parties; our district committee and council unanimously issued a negative opinion on the two proposed sites in the south of Amsterdam.

Feasible and realistic

Too many problems have been put on hold for too long and politicians do not always listen to what the people want. On behalf of BBB, I will fight for the interests of all residents of the Netherlands and come up with realistic, feasible proposals with broad-based support.