BBB faction leader in Flevoland resigns after conviction for fishing without a permit

Anja Keuter, chair of the BBB provincial faction in Flevoland, was sentenced to community service on Monday for fishing a cutter owned by her family business without a permit. Keuter's brother-in-law, who was sailing the boat illegally in 2022, was sentenced to 55 hours of community service, 30 of which were suspended.

On Monday evening she announced that she was leaving the Provincial Council. "I want to prevent the faction, both provincially and nationally, from being burdened with the (negative) attention that this ruling and any subsequent proceedings could bring," she said in a statement.

The Overijssel court accused Keuter of making her cutter available while not complying with the licensing requirements. She defended herself by arguing that she was only a director of the company on paper.

The judge acquitted Keuter of the actual offense of fishing without fishing rights. Her brother-in-law was, however, convicted for that offense: the judge sentenced him to 100 hours of community service, 50 hours of which were suspended, and a fine of 500 euros.

Party informed about criminal case

Keuter had informed her party about the criminal case, but it nevertheless placed her in eleventh place for the 2024 European Parliament elections, Follow the Money reported last month. The BBB won two seats in those elections.

Keuter, who has led the BBB provincial faction since 2023, is also being considered as a candidate for alderman for the Urk party Gemeentebelangen, for which she was a councilor for many years, according to local media.

For the BBB party leadership, which provides two ministers at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), the criminal case did not prevent them from posing with the offending cutter last month for their campaign for the parliamentary elections. A week later, State Secretary Jean Rummenie visited the Keuter family's fishing business.

In response to her departure, BBB Flevoland stated that it respects her decision. "We understand that she is taking the responsibility that befits her role as the person ultimately responsible within her company."

Keuter had previously been involved in a lawsuit after the same cutter collided with a police vessel during a blockade protesting nitrogen policy. She claimed damages, but the judge rejected her claim.