Illustration Shutterstock There are no election flyers, never mind debates. But it’s important nevertheless, says Guido Camps, on the elections for the Accountability Council (AC) of the ABP. ‘The ABP is one of the largest funds, and with that power, responsible decisions on how money is invested are extra important.’
The AC is a type of participation council for the ABP. The council is made up of 48 individuals who, together, represent just under three million ABP members. There are nine parties on the ballot, including Camps’ Lijst voor Onafhankelijk Pensioentoezicht (LvOP, list for independent pension supervision). With the exception of Groen & Eerlijk ( a one-person party of WUR-researcher Fédes van Rijn) all the parties are unions.
Top candidate
Nutrition researcher Camps tops the LvOP list. With five of the current eighteen seats for the still working ABP members, this party holds some weight. The remaining seats are earmarked for retirees (thirteen seats) and employers (sixteen seats). A critical column in Resource led to his leadership of the election list.
There is always the possibility of a crisis. Thus, planning for the future calls for caution
Guido Camps, top candidate for LvOP
‘When I was asked to top the list, I thought it was a great opportunity’, Camps says. ‘The timing is relevant, as the new Pension Law is coming into effect, and the system is being overturned. For youngsters who are just starting their careers, there are not many issues. They still have to accrue their pension. But for those who have accrued their retirement benefits under the previous system, this is a risky step. If insufficient care is taken, you may lose some of your money.’
Frugal
Recent history teaches us that frugality is needed, says Camps. ‘There is always the possibility of a crisis. Thus, planning for the future calls for caution. You never know what the return on your investments will be. You must be thrifty with the available funds. This frugality benefits the youth. The new law does not stress this enough.’
Camps also focuses on the sustainability of investments. ‘It is imperative that investments are transparent and verifiable. There are too few verifiable criteria at the moment. You should be able to put a number on sustainability. The money is ours, and we want to know how it is invested. I want there to be full transparency: participants should be able to access this information on a website.’
Information on the parties and candidates is available on the ABP website. Members can vote until 24 April.
