The President of Bolivia has declared a state of emergency following weeks of public unrest and road blockades. This measure grants the government increased powers to restore order, including the deployment of the military to clear obstructed routes.
Bas de Ruig, the 32-year-old floor leader for D66 in the municipality of Velsen, discusses the challenges of balancing his political duties with a 32-hour work week. He currently serves in the local council while working as a product management specialist at a company based in Haarlem.
A woman died in the Dutch province of Drenthe after a tree fell on her car during a storm on Friday night. She passed away at the scene of the accident.
Haarlem council member Moussa Aynan reflects on the difficulty of balancing his twenty-year political career with the birth and upbringing of his three children. He notes that he was not well prepared for the challenge of combining municipal duties with family life while serving in the local government.
Former Dutch sports minister Conny Helder reflects on the political complexities and pressures involved in representing the Netherlands at the World Cup. Political reporter Hans van Soest notes a shift in the political approach from The Hague regarding moralizing stances at international sporting events.