Political Diary 2024-01-29

The weekend brought exciting news for Volt Belgium: On Saturday an interview with our lead candidate for the European election Sophie in t’ Veld got published in De Tijd, one of the main print magazines in Belgium. Also on Saturday the team engaged in active campaigning by flyering in Leuven and Brussels, connecting with people on the streets, and collecting signatures. (If you haven't signed yet and you're registered as a resident in Belgium, please sign: https://voltbelgie.org/sign4volt)

I myself had a family ‘weekend’ scheduled for Saturday, but got caught up a little bit by spamming the letterboxes of my neighbors on Sunday with our flyers. - I had never realized the number of student housings in our part of Heverlee nor the challenges faced by mail carriers dealing with sharp letterboxes blocked by brushes to keep out cold, dirt, and mice. Perhaps I should include Uvex gloves for mail carriers in my campaign.

Since I am not only a candidate but also an event co-lead, the rest of my Sunday was spent drafting a letter proposing that Volt could conduct a workshop on March 8 (International Women's Day) about women in politics for secondary schools. While not direct campaigning, this initiative may prompt some teachers to learn more about us, and my primary goal is to encourage younger women to explore politics. I've compiled a list of 120 schools to contact, and if we achieve a 10% return rate, we may need assistance from the women of Volt Netherlands to meet the demand. Once my text in Dutch is approved by a native speaker, I'll send out the emails.

While researching school addresses, my WhatsApp didn't stop buzzing. Between 9 PM and 2 AM, Volters typically update each other on organizational matters. Working with these volunteers has its advantages, including the ability to contact technical support (or, in this case, our Vice President and Brussels lead) in the middle of the night, who is than patiently explaining how our Google Mail works with 'shared mail accounts. (Thanks, Carlo Guidice.)

Finding time to focus on the political content of my campaign amid these activities is a challenge. I recently had a stop-and-go WhatsApp discussion with an old friend who shares most of Volt's positions but disagrees with my personal opinions on certain topics, particularly Ukraine. Most folks in Volt share his opinion that the European response to the Russian invasion was appropriate, I hold a different view. I don't think it was smart. I made up my mind based on the sources shared by Wagenknecht and the so-called 'Schwobler' Daniele Ganserer. But, primarily, I oppose sacrificing any lives when there's little to gain, and I prefer to live to fight another day.

During our discussion, my friend asked if I shouldn’t considered running for another party. I may not share all the opinions presented by other candidates, but all of us representing Volt adhere to our agreed-upon program. Our core value is democracy.

For me the Ukraine topic highlighted this commitment. In a Volt international online forum, moderated by Damian Boeselager, I presented my opinion despite the fact that I was by far in the minority. Nevertheless, we engaged in a conversation, with interesting arguments avoiding catchphrases like 'Putin is Hitler'.

This is why I am at home in Volt, where people listen and engage in meaningful dialogue.