In the run-up to the Dutch general elections, students from the Nijmegen School of Management, in collaboration with the Gelderlander, organised a series of Q&A sessions with the lead candidates of political parties. As in previous years, the aim was to invite both the lead candidates of the current governing parties and those of parties polling well, in order to engage each of them in an open conversation.
As a faculty, we are proud of our students for organising these activities and believe it is important for students to have the opportunity to exchange ideas with politicians from across the political spectrum. The faculty regrets that the conversation with Caroline van der Plas did not take place.
In a democratic constitutional state, it is essential that political discussions can be held in an open manner, and that it must also be possible to protest against them. As a faculty, we are committed to putting the principles of the democratic constitutional state into practice. This means we will continue to create space for respectful and critical dialogue.