Sigrid Kaag (D66) wants to continue to stand for ideals against negative forces: 'Do what is possible'

Standing up for your ideals and doing the right thing against all negative forces, that's how D66 party leader Sigrid Kaag is inspired by the mother superior of a children's home in Bethlehem. That is also the reason that she is adding sister Sophie to the gallery of honor of the Museum for Democracy of De Nieuws BV .

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The Museum of Democracy with party leader Sigrid Kaag

Kaag met the 85-year-old mother superior, Sister Sophie, through her circle of friends in Jerusalem. The party leader of D66 draws inspiration for her work as a politician from the 'unbridled commitment and inner strength' of Sister Sophie.

“It is her belief that it is always better to do the right thing against all negative forces. We should all look up to these types of people, because they show us what is good in people. vulnerable. You always have to discover the good in people, "says Kaag.

Hall of Fame of the Museum of Democracy

In the run-up to the elections, various party leaders fill the Hall of Fame of the Museum of Democracy with their heroines or heroes. In De Nieuws BV , the party leaders explain why someone deserves a place in the hall of honor and how this person inspired him or her.

For a long time, Sister Sophie ran a children's home in Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories. She is now retired. “In all the years that she was at the helm, a lot has happened,” says Kaag. "Conflict, strife, the rise of Hamas. In all these years he took care of his children, as did unmarried mothers who had unwanted pregnancies."

Not afraid of the devil

When a baby was found, Sister Sophie was called. She would literally and figuratively go through firing squads with an ambulance when a baby was found in a rubbish dump. The mothers would often leave the babies there. She would then be called by an Israeli or a Palestinian commander. She got into the car. at night, 2.00 in the morning, through the dark valleys, she went to pick up the child, try to save and take care of it. "

According to Kaag, Sister Sophie is both powerful and witty. "And she was not afraid of the devil. She said it as it was and she did everything, but everything for the children she wanted to protect. She gave all her life to these children and their mothers. She always found solutions. . "

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'We have not been able to do enough with the Moria deal'

With a Mother Superior as your inspiration, you wouldn't expect to close the Moria deal. "An ugly deal", is how Christian Union party chairman Gert-Jan Segers described the deal. Kaag is also not happy with this closed deal. "I also think it's terrible." Still, she thinks that Sister Sophie also made this deal. "She also had to make a lot of agreements, because that was ultimately the only feasible thing at that time."

"Unfortunately, we cannot achieve everything we want, certainly not in politics, but we have to stand by our ideals", Kaag continues. According to her, only two parties (D66 and the ChristenUnie) were concerned about the fate of the people on the Greek island. "The majority is not in favor of support at all. A large part of the parties are no longer in favor of development cooperation and want to look away from these kinds of situations."

Did D66 make the right decision? Kaag asks himself. "We have not been able to do enough. We did what we could. That is why Sister Sophie also made this deal with pain in her heart." In the future, however, Kaag would 'rather not' close such a deal again.

Discontinued adoption and attention to foster care

Kaag himself adopted a child from the children's home in Bethlehem. The D66 party chairman also lived with a foster family. Why, then, are only two sentences devoted to foster care in the election manifesto, of which it is known that there is a considerable shortage in the Netherlands? Should more attention be paid to this? "Yes, absolutely", says Kaag. She herself propagates this: "I think it is extremely important that people are encouraged as foster parents."

The same goes for adoption. "I am also in favor of continuing to make intercountry adoption possible, provided that it continues to take place under the right circumstances. That has to be careful," says Kaag. After a solid report, the cabinet has temporarily halted international adoption. Something that Kaag thinks is sensible, but sees it getting going again as soon as possible.

Kaag: "You have to look at all facets: terrible things have happened, but we can look ahead in this phase. Decisions have been taken: there will be a reporting point, a knowledge center and support will be provided. future under new frameworks, because it can do so much for the life of a child and its parents. "

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