
The jargon brigade wants politicians to use plain language! Use of difficult language makes politics hard to follow for many young people. That’s why the jargon brigade has set out to judge the language use of politicians.
The politician that does use plain language for young people, receives the Plain Language Prize (Klare Taalprijs in Dutch). Long sentences, vague talk and difficult words are discouraged with the Blabber Prize (Zwetsprijs in Dutch).
2020
In 2020, a youth working group analysed the language use of all party leaders and nominated two politicians per prize. After this, an online vote ensued and let young people from all over the Netherlands decide the final winners.
2002-2015
In 2015 and before, the jargon brigade was active during the yearly General Political Considerations in the House of Representatives. The winners of the Plain Language Prize and the Blabber Prize were decided based on these debates.
winners of the Zwetsprijs
- 2002 - Maria van der Hoeven (parliamentary member CDA)
- 2003 - Maxime Verhagen (parliamentary member CDA)
- 2004 - Bert Koenders (parliamentary member PvdA)
- 2005 - Bas van der Vlies (parliamentary member SGP)
- 2006 - Maxime Verhagen (parliamentary member CDA)
- 2007 - Pieter van Geel (parliamentary member CDA)
- 2008 - Mariëtte Hamer (parliamentary member PvdA)
- 2009 - Agnes Kant (parliamentary member SP)
- 2010 - Stef Blok (parliamentary member VVD)
- 2011 - Sybrand van Haersma Buma (parliamentary member CDA)
- 2012 - Bram van Ojik (parliamentary member GroenLinks)
- 2013 - Halbe Zijlstra (parliamentary member VVD)
- 2014 - Halbe Zijlstra (parliamentary member VVD)
- 2015 - Halbe Zijlstra (parliamentary member VVD)
- 2020 - Klaas Dijkhoff (parliamentary member VVD)
winners of the Klare Taalprijs
- 2002 - Harry van Bommel (parliamentary member SP)
- 2003 - Boris Dittrich (parliamentary member D66)
- 2004 - Boris van der Ham (parliamentary member D66)
- 2005 - Jan Marijnissen (parliamentary member SP)
- 2006 - Femke Halsema (parliamentary member GroenLinks)
- 2007 - Geert Wilders (parliamentary member PVV)
- 2008 - Alexander Pechtold (parliamentary member D66)
- 2009 - Mark Rutte (parliamentary member VVD)
- 2010 - Emile Roemer (parliamentary member SP)
- 2011 - Alexander Pechtold (parliamentary member D66)
- 2012 - Alexander Pechtold (parliamentary member D66)
- 2013 - Diederik Samsom (parliamentary member PvdA)
- 2014 - Alexander Pechtold (parliamentary member D66)
- 2015 - Geert Wilders (parliamentary member PVV) en Jesse Klaver (parliamentary member GroenLinks)
- 2020 - Lilian Marijnissen (parliamentary member SP)