Election Debate 2025 “Caring for a Healthy Society”
Monday, October 20, 2025, Theater Hall, Neude Library
“Politics is nothing more than medicine on a large scale.” (Rudolf Virchow, 1821–1902)
This debate can be watched again via the YouTube livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=IPF-zyjX-Mo
Everyone wants a healthy and happy life; healthcare is one of the most important election themes for voters. Yet so far, there has been little attention during the campaign for healthcare, let alone public health. That is why, on October 20, we organized the second edition of the Election Debate “Caring for a Healthy Society.”
Many issues—such as staff shortages, rising healthcare costs, an unhealthy living environment, an aging population, and increasing numbers of chronically ill people—extend beyond healthcare alone. High time, therefore, to also debate this “medicine on a large scale” during the 2025 Dutch parliamentary elections. Together, participants debated themes such as health and freedom of choice, scarcity in healthcare, prevention, and a healthy living environment.
Debaters (in order of polled seats):
- CDA: Chantal van den Berg (#21)
- GL-PvdA: Elke Slagt-Tichelman (incumbent MP)
- D66: Wieke Paulusma (#6)
- VVD: Harry Bevers (#17)
- SP: Sunita Biharie (#8)
- PvdD: Olivia Butterman (#17)
- VOLT: Rens de Boer (#3)
This debate was organized by Van Hier Naar […], The New Utrecht School, Stichting Dokters in Debat, Groene Zorg Alliantie, and Optimale Zorg-Dappere Dokters.