"Patrick Créchet is the french candidate for Rijswijk". Wrong! I want to be the representative of all the people living in Rijswijk, the Dutch people as well as the Expats. Having been living nearly 20 years in The Netherlands, I know that this country enjoys contact with the outside world. Furthermore, the Dutch people want us here; we bring welfare. That is part of the Dutch Policy. By voting, we do our duty and show that we are here. That is, participating in "living together" with the respect which we must have to our host country. Voting on 3 March could be a small step for integration, but is above all a big step to feeling more comfortable.

Voting may be secret, but when you want to make a complaint or have a proposal, then you will know who to talk to. Because local elections may be a question of politics, right or left, social or liberal at various levels, it is above all a matter of personal opinion. By voting CDA, you are with the most important political force in the Netherlands which knows the importance of Expats and is ready to improve the conditions here. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Verhagen (CDA), made it clear during the launch of my campaign: By voting CDA, you feel in Holland.

In Rijswijk, we have 8 political parties competing for the City council which is composed of 29 seats (city of less of 50 000 inhabitants). The election system is a proportional one with the possibility to vote on a single candidate. If a candidate gets more than a few hundreds of votes, he gets a seat. So, remember Patrick Créchet, list 5 CDA Rijswijk, candidate 8.

The city of Rijswijk is trying hard to reconquer its international fame of the past. Rijswijk was indeed the place where the "Vrede of Rijswijk" was signed 300 years ago. The international aspect is quite important for Rijswijk. It brings to the city important advantages in the cultural and social life. For this reason, I want to use my mandate to create a harmonised and better environment in Rijswijk in this sense by going in discussion with the Expats. For these reasons, we are going to investigate in the direction of an international educational centre. The cost of living and taxes are and have to stay lower than in the neighbouring municipalities with a comparable quality of living.

Plenty of proposals are on the table: expat locket run by volunteers, day of the expats, kindergarten, international education, etc...If I am elected, an enquiry is planned to evaluate the needs and complains of the Expats in Rijswijk.

On 3 March, vote for candidate 8 of list 5 CDA Rijswijk, Patrick Créchet (www.patrickcrechet.eu), and let your preference be heard!

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