The Dutch Elections 2010

As some of you know I am from The Netherlands and we have elections the 9th of June.

Since I never seen a thread about Dutch politics it is about time I introduce ATS to it.

A bit of history from Wiki, saves me the typing since I can validate it's correctness.

Due to the multi-party system, no single party has ever held a majority in parliament since the 19th century, and coalition cabinets had to be formed. Since suffrage became universal in 1919, the Dutch political system has been dominated by three families of political parties: the strongest family were the Christian democrats, currently represented by the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), second were the social democrats, of which the Labour Party (PvdA) is currently the largest party, and third were the liberals, of which the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is the main representative.

These parties cooperated in coalition cabinets in which the Christian democrats had always been a partner: so either a centre left coalition of the Christian democrats and social democrats was ruling or a centre right coalition of Christian democrats and liberals. In the 1970s, the party system became more volatile: the Christian democratic parties lost seats, while new parties became successful, such as the radical democrat and progressive liberal D66.

In the 1994 election, the CDA lost its dominant position. A "purple" cabinet was formed by VVD, D66, and PvdA. In the 2002 elections, this cabinet lost its majority, due to the rise of the LPF, a new political party around the flamboyant populist Pim Fortuyn, who was assassinated a week before the elections. The elections also saw increased support for the CDA. A short lived cabinet was formed by CDA, VVD, and LPF, which was led by the CDA leader democrats, Jan Peter Balkenende. After the 2003 elections in which the LPF lost almost all its seats, a cabinet was formed by CDA, VVD, and D66. The cabinet initiated an ambitious program of reforming the welfare state, the health care system, and the immigration policies.

In June 2006, the cabinet fell after D66 voted in favour of a motion of no confidence against minister of immigration and integration Rita Verdonk in the aftermath of the upheaval about the asylum procedure of VVD MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali instigated by the Dutch immigration minister Verdonk. A care taker cabinet was formed by CDA and VVD, and the general elections were held on 22 November 2006. In these elections, the Christian Democratic Appeal remained the largest party and the Socialist Party made the largest gains. The formation of a new cabinet started two days after the elections. Initial investigations towards a CDA-SP-PvdA coalition failed, after which a coalition of CDA, PvdA, and ChristianUnion was formed.

On 20 February 2010, the cabinet fell as the PvdA refused to prolong the involvement of the Dutch Army in Uruzgan, Afghanistan.[42] New general elections will be held 9 June 2010.

Wiki Link

So the current biggest Political parties here are CDA, PVDA and CritianUnion and the leading political block is Christian, than we get parties like the Socialistic Party, Proud On Netherlands, VVD, D66, party for the Animals, Green Left, SGP and a more popular left party from Geert Wilders the Party for freedom.

After the current cabinet fell they decided to lend Greece 4.8 billion in 3 years time, money we probably will never see back.

Also there were bailouts for example for the ABN Amro bank, they got 30 billion euro's and we probably won't ever see those again too, the financial minister responsible Wouter Bos got his pockets filled and won't be involved in next cabinet.

That means over 3000 euro for every tax paying Dutch down the drain.

Because of the financial crisis all of the major political parties want to do more budget cutting, except for themselves ofcourse.

The small parties have no real standpoints I can agree on, we have even a political party for the animals.

There is no one in the 11 political parties that really deserves my vote, even the socialistic parties have become something I don't believe in anymore.

The left is too left and the right is too right, we have a Prime Minister that is running for a third term.

Everyone can join the discussion of course, but for all my fellow Dutch ATS people, what are your thoughts on this election?

I don't have a clue who to vote for.


[edit on 1-6-2010 by Grey Magic]

I kind of have the same problem you do.
There is no good choice to make. The choices that do look promising are thrown away when the debate begins how to form a cabinet without one party that does not feel less of the others.

Hello mate.

You know there are some new parties i believe like nieuw(new) nederland.
I was a member of the SP for a while but there is no big party i can agree with it is al a big show nothing gets done. A party like New Nederland is a party i agree fully with, they promote things like a healthcare system based on nature and the power of our own bodies and spirit, free energy disclosure. Very few people do know that party at least people i speak.

Peace and good luck making your choice while you know it is there for the show.

If you want help with deciding who to vote for you must first tell us what your political leaning is. Is it Green, Socialist, Conservative, Liberal, Centrist?

I am an American but I have always found Dutch politics very interesting because you have so many parties with alot of influence.

I am a Socialist and rather Green too, I would support the Socialist Party. But if it came to a coalition I would prefer a coalition of...

Dutch Labour
Socialist
GreenLeft
Party for Animals
Democrats 66




If I was in Nethelands I would definitly vote for the Socialist Party so Emile Roemer can become Prime Minister.

all those smaller parties won't make the coalition, just the opposition.

The problem is the immigration and integration issue, one big part is neutral, one very right and one very left about it.

One of those 3 parties will win the election, and form a coalition with the second and/or third party.

Whatever I vote on as smaller party, I lose as a voter.

A lot of Dutch people won't vote and I am wondering if I should?

reply to post by Grey Magic


Always vote ! When you don't your vote is automatically going to the largest party.

Can I ask the Dutch people here-

Some people in the UK are considering changing the voting system, to include "alternative" elements like "transferable votes" or "proportional representation".
Does your voting system have any of these elements?
Do you think they are a help, or a hindrance?

reply to post by DISRAELI


Nothing like that, we can give our votes to someone to vote for us though if we somehow can't, I never looked into abuse of that system though.

reply to post by Grey Magic


Well that was a very interesting read, thank you for that. I have never really heard much, if anything, about Dutch politics, so I don't know much about it.

The US has a lot of parties, but the only two that can really do anything are the Republicans and the Democrats, but if you're on ATS, you probably already knew that. I can't imagine how much more screwed up our political system would be if there was even a third party that had any influence, let alone a fourth, fifth, or sixth.

reply to post by Grey Magic


Are we still allowed to vote blank?
Thats better then not voting, for the reasons that Sinterklaas (with his red hat) mentioned.

reply to post by locster


yes we can vote blank.

reply to post by locster


reply to post by Grey Magic


I've never heard of that before. Is it anything like what Wiki describes it as?

reply to post by riddle6


Yes, exactly, I might vote blank.

reply to post by riddle6


Yes, it's a protest vote. It's what i almost vote
In my opinion it's better than picking the least bad one.


reply to post by Grey Magic

Then blank it shall be.

I am an international student, studying in Amsterdam. I've also got a Dutch passport, because I've got Dutch parents. Which entitles me to a right of voting. I would really like to get involved, but I am not really sure were I can get good, clean information about the parties (in English). Any Dutch man could provide some sites that could be helpful?

I also hear about some parties trying to remove the Studiefinancing. That would be terrible for us students. Which are these parties?

Another thing: I've got the Oproep thing in the mail. I read and understood were I have to go, and at what time. But do I need to do anything else? What do I need to bring? (I am really ashamed of not being able to Speak Dutch. But I am going to get on it ASAP).

reply to post by republicadelbanano


You'll need your id or passport and the votingpass (stempas).
This year you can vote where ever you like.

reply to post by republicadelbanano


Here's a good link.

And another one.

Though they describe the major parties it's still a good overview.

Not 11 but 18 parties to choose from.

[edit on 2-6-2010 by Grey Magic]

reply to post by Grey Magic


Hey Grey and Locster to.


have you been able to make a choice yet ?
I've been threw an awful lot of material but what I found to be the most compelling was that of Fortuin. ( R.I.P. )

PS.
Recently I heard V van der G. was up for parole in the very near future.

reply to post by republicadelbanano

(I am really ashamed of not being able to Speak Dutch. But I am going to get on it ASAP).

Don't be just leave your passport at the gate when you leave. Just kidding.

What do you mean you don't speak Dutch ? Shame on your parents. Did you know that the ability to speak two languages will result in to a younger brain with a longer exporation date. Go figure.

Never mind it doesn't work

[edit on 6/6/2010 by Sinter Klaas]