Who can still govern the Netherlands?
Wednesday’s local election results show the Netherlands’ electorate has grown ever more fractured. Traditional parties are losing ground and Geert Wilders’ populist Party for Freedom (PVV) garnered a spectacular amount of votes in the two cities where it participated.
Although local results cannot be translated to the national level for a number of reasons a few predictions can be made based on them. The upcoming election campaign is likely to focus on the battle between CDA prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Labour leader Wouter Bos, with anti-Islamic Wilders as the strong third competitor.
Whoever wins the popular vote, the big challenge after the June 9 election will be the formation of a coalition government. The Christian Democratic/Labour government that fell last month won’t return. Bos has ruled out a coalition with Wilders. Balkenende is keeping his options open, but doesn’t look to keen to partner with the populist leader either.
Three scenarios were mentioned in an NRC Handelsblad analysis: a three party coalition composed of CDA, PVV and right-wing liberals VVD, a revival of the ‘Purple’ (Labour, VVD and left-wing liberal D66) coalition that was in power from 1994 to 2002 augmented by GroenLinks, or a minority coalition, as is common in Denmark.
What do you think? Are any of these scenarios likely? What could be an alternative?
Thursday 4 March 2010, 17:38
It appears that NL is being rocked by forces similar to those called the Tea Party Movement in the US:
a total repudiation of central power; a rejection of incumbants; a strong nativist orientation; a move to recapture some hypothetical ‘paradise lost’- lost by those who have held power. Thus, the program to overturn the current power structure can become something close to revolution.
Friday 5 March 2010, 10:26
With the only and very important difference between the US and The Netherlands being, that the US has a two-party system and in The Netherlands, a country the size of a postage stamp compared to America, has as many as 20 parties vying for seats. Naturally, the “big six seven” mix and match in coalitions for national government, but not much progress is made when partners exclude each other beforehand.
Friday 5 March 2010, 13:02
For the first time I am embarrassed to be a Dutch citizen, we have just had local elections which to some degree were actually positive but overshadowed by the huge success of a party called the PVV, lead by one Gert Wilders.
One of the real strengths and attractive things associated with Living in the Netherlands is that there is embedded in the culture and the law respect for every individual, for the opinions, beliefs and choices. The rights and duties of every individual are clear and protected, this means that there is a way of life where a diverse population can live a free and satisfying existence, in spite of living so close together in a densely populated area. Of course over the course of a few hundred years there have been big advances but this basic principle has stood the country in good stead all this time. This is the reason that as far back as the Huguenots oppressed people have come here and been taken up in the society, sometimes with friction but in the end successfully.
There are times when “groups” stand up for their rights as a group, however mostly it is a hollow action since the rights and duties of every individual are so protected, the groups effectively have all the protection necessary. In some cases group action has had results, a good example is the homosexual community, however these rights have been embedded not as specific rights for the group, but through extending the rights of the individual. This protection and respect for the individual person effectively protects the whole population.
Luckily the biggest champion of this approach, the party D66, did exceptionally well in the elections.
Unfortunately the party PVV, lead by Gert Wilders, overshadowed this result. The PVV, frighteningly has a striking resemblance to the South African politics pre 1990, The Nazi party of the 1930s and numerous other dictatorial regimes. The issue is broader, but rooted in my view in two core issues, the combination of which is, as proven all too often, a recipe for disaster.
Groups of people are identified and treated as “uniform” heterogeneous groups, secondly fear is used as a justification for discriminatory actions and potentially laws against these “groups”. This is the core of the PVV existence, and just as the South African government did – and learned from the Nazis before them, everything gets cloaked in seemingly rational policies and real or imagined dangers are drawn out of context and presented as cause and effect. For example, numerous young Moroccans exhibit antisocial behaviour, partly embedded in their culture and exacerbated by the fact that it is different, the PVV and a couple of others then say that the “anti-social” society (cloaked in nationalism) that supposedly is developing is caused by “the Moroccans”. Islam and thus all Muslims are at the root of pretty much anything you could perceive as negative.
There have always been “threats” to society, and there always will be, but we have shown in the past that singling out groups, using fear, force and discrimination to counteract these “elements” leads only to dictatorship, more fear, and more repression. The risk of a negative spiral killing democracy and undermining the very sense of security the approach is supposed to create is almost a given.
I hope that as summer comes and the population gets out of the winter dip people will realise that respect, protection of universal rights and insisting on fulfilment of the social duties is the only way to keep a free and healthy society.
It would really be a wonderful world if we could rid it of Gert Wilders, the PVV and their ilk.
Where do I return the soap box?
Friday 5 March 2010, 16:05
Rob Reeve writes: “One of the real strengths and attractive things associated with Living in the Netherlands is that there is embedded in the culture and the law respect for every individual, for the opinions, beliefs and choices.”
Rob captures the ethos very eloquently. But, isn’t the primary reason for Wilder’s success the fact that many see these “attractive things” as threatened? Endangered? For he is seen as protector of this ethos, while others turn a blind eye to threats or try to rationalize them or make excuses for them.
Friday 5 March 2010, 18:48
If Rob Reeve is a Dutch citizen whose mother tongue is Dutch, he should be congratulated for his superb writing style in English.
I am an American of Dutch and German descent, who has lived one happy year of his life in Amsterdam, and two in Antwerp. I love the Low Countries, and it saddens me to see all the political and social problems in these two lands.
I agree with much of what Rob Reeve wrote about Geert Wilders. He is too “over-the-top” and too impractical, too prejudiced in his demands to be an effective leader. I am happy, however, that he is on the scene, because he is pointing out a severe problem–the rise of Islam in Western Europe–which has been condoned or ignored by the ruling Dutch political parties. Rob Reese would probably not approve of my belief that Islam is a threat to freedom and world peace.
There is a recent, well-reasoned, well-written book that looks at this problem from the standpoint of a skilled Arabist. Every statement he makes is backed up with extensive research in the Koran, the Umma, and the writings of Islamic scholars and apologists.
The book was published only a month or two ago:
“The Third Choice,” by Mark Durie. Instead of the exaggerated and unsubstantiated remarks of persons like Wilders and Mark Steyn, Durie is calm and scholarly in his approach. His conclusions, however, are similar to theirs.
Howard Slenk
Friday 5 March 2010, 23:32
It seems people in the U.S. have something in common with the Dutch. Our politicans have become too immersed in protecting the rights of immigrants at the expense of its citizenry. Fear has nothing to do with it, and I know of no one in the U.S. looking for a return to a “paradise lost.” We simply believe we have a right to live with people who share our values. We welcome all immigrants, but immigrants should understand that they will be expected to adapt to our values – not us to theirs.
Saturday 6 March 2010, 19:07
I am very encouraged by the success of the Geert Wilders and the PVV in the local election results. This bodes well for the coming National Elections.
Geert Wilders is a man whose time has come. Despite his current trial on trumped up charges it is clear that the average Netherlander is not in the least bit swayed by the Leftist propaganda which wishes to paint Mr. Wilders in a negative light.
After decades of Leftist social engineering under the guise of multiculturalism we have all learned a valuable lesson. A multi-racial society is desirable but a multicultural society is a disaster in the making.
There should be only one culture which is promoted in the Netherlands and that is our secular democratic culture, with its human rights particularly freedom of speech, gender equality AND rule of one law for all (Dutch secular law.)
All new citizenship in the Netherlands should be contingent on new citizens understanding the basis of our culture and the laws and regulations governing it including their rights under that law.
All peoples culturally not equipped nor prepared to live in a free secular society such as our should be strongly encouraged to seek residence elsewhere.
The people of the Netherlands understand more all the time that it is Geert Wilders and the PVV who are the most motivated and best equipped to take care of their needs and to protect their culture and their country.
Finally, a leader who puts the Netherlands and its people first.
Monday 8 March 2010, 21:44
I fell in love with the Netherlands, the country, the people, and the “life-and-let-live” way of life while visiting three times in 2009. As a United States citizen now living here while working on a Masters degree in Government I was fascinated by the elections held last week. In my studies I have yet to see a current contemporary system of government that is fool-proof.
Politics has always been a ‘sport’ in my native Texas as well as nationally and I am now thoroughly disgusted with the extreme partisan atmosphere that has reared its ugly head. It never ceases to amaze me how people even in my own Democratic party are behaving like lunatics. In my own state, I actually voted in the Republican primary (very uncharacteristic) for a gubernatorial candidate I didn’t like in order to force a run-off to get the incumbent, Governor Good Hair (Rick Perry) OUT.
I am a self described “Leg Junkie”- lobbying and working on my own pet causes (victim’s rights, environment, public education, children’s health and safety) during the biennial Texas legislative sessions. I am an activist. I say I’m going to work on an issue and do it.
And that is why I found the elections here so interesting. Instead of two main parties, with the occasional Libertarian (my personal favorite) party thrown in there to ensure a Republican majority during elections, you have several. All of whom seem to work against each other. The word ‘coalition’ only seems to apply after the elections are over and the fallout no longer an issue. Even then, your ‘coalition’ collapsed. A coalition by nature is a temporary thing so at least your government did that right.
I also found several of your parties are big on talker and little on action. I went to several party ‘meetings’ in The Hague, Utrecht, Leiden, and even Amsterdam trying to discern which parties were the most effective at campaigning and moving voters to become active. It was more like organized chaos in many instances thereby making people more excited about someone who, even if they didn’t share the exact same beliefs, was organized, had well-thought out plans, and seemingly had large groups of followers.
What I saw is a synchronization of what is going on with the “Tea Party” movement over in the States. The far conservative right is telling a very specific audience what they want to hear, similar to what Mr. Wilders is doing, and it’s causing a rift. Only those people inside the Tea Party movement approve of what they’re doing, but they ARE moving voters out now and those votes are affecting the makeup of legislatures and gubernatorial races. So it works. Plus you have the media adding gas to the flames. Much more press was given to Mr. Wilders and his party than to the D66 (whom I would mostly align myself with) who gained momentum and seats. I am still working out the math formula on how ‘who’ gets ‘how many’ seats and ‘where’. I’ll have it figured out hopefully before elections this summer.
I can’t wait to see how that day turns out!
Tuesday 9 March 2010, 0:58
Netherlands is facing an historical moment and that is ‘Coming of Neo-Nazis’,I do not see any difference between Gestapo and the Wilders group,they have the same tendencies like the forces of Hitler or those of Mussolini or Franco of Spain. Right now Islam is a focus point and Islam Bashing a favorite game of the Wilders!!
The year 2010 is going to be the year of maximum unrest and polarization here in the Netherlands.Its due to the total failure of the established political parties and their leadership,otherwise people like Wilders had no chance in our country as the majority of our people were anti wilders but since other parties decided to leave an vacuum due to their inefficient political practices,Wilder could even become a choice of highly educated people!
He is going to rule Netherlands and no one else!!
Tuesday 9 March 2010, 8:37
Arn Hatfield wrote “There should be only one culture which is promoted in the Netherlands and that is our secular democratic culture, with its human rights particularly freedom of speech, gender equality AND rule of one law for all (Dutch secular law).”
There are significant numbers of Dutch fundamentalist Christians who, though democrats, do not believe or subscribe to gender equality, secularism or gay rights. Does this put them in conflict with your definition Dutch culture? There is no absolutely monolithic culture on earth. Even Saudi Arabia is ‘slightly’ pluralistic.
The PVV is just the latest hype to hit the Netherlands. Like all other hypes, it will come and go quickly. Islam is indeed a problem but you don’t deal with it by insulting it. Most Muslims in the Netherlands are Dutch citizens and from statistics, tend to procreate at faster rates than the native Dutch population.
It means we may be looking at a future in which Muslims may become a mini-political force in the Netherlands(albeit in an evolved from). The main problems facing the Netherlands today are declining birth rates and their effect on retirement age, decreasing global competitiveness due to the rise of Asian nations and the unsustainable welfare state.
Which politicians have addressed these issues? People rather sit and blame others for their problems, when it is so clear that the real problems are global not local. Rather than working together, we insult our neighbours for being different, immigrants or Muslims when the kids they give to society today would likely be needed to pay for our pensions tomorrow. Think, people, think and free your minds. Politicians are populists. Salvation comes from within yourself alone.
Wednesday 10 March 2010, 22:21
Geert Wilders is the only honest politician willing to take on big issues and willing to clean out the swamp. Human rights particularly freedom of speech, gender equality AND Dutch secular rule of law are tenets of Dutch society and should be enforced. God Bless Geert Wilders.
Thursday 11 March 2010, 21:14
God create the world for everyone
God Bless harmony (one world for everyone) and no “hate”
Thursday 11 March 2010, 22:31
In the past 8 years we have had 5 different coalition governments here in Holland!! And those were the good days!!! At least in those years we had a government, even if it wasn’t able to sit out it’s full term. But now it seems that once the June 9th elections are over, the parties won’t even be able to form a coalition of any sort. I wouldn’t be surprised if the situation we’re in today – that is a country without a governnment – lasts for quite a while after the elections given that the predicted largest 3 parties (Labour, CDA and – God forbid – PVV) cannot work together.
As for Geert Wilders and his idiotic PVV party, I sure hope it is indeed a fad that will blow over once they have power and show just how daft they and their policies are. Just last week the Netherlands was told off by the European Court for it’s laws on immigration & migrants. If Wilders really thinks he can implement his mindless policies, he should think again. Or does he want to take the Netherlands out of the EU all together??!!
Saturday 13 March 2010, 21:11
To Bjorn V.,
What are these big issues you mentioned? The PVV is a populist party with no real agenda. It’s like a religious cult that promises its followers eternal salvation. I have listed what I consider to be the biggest issues facing the Netherlands today: declining birth rate, unsustainable welfare state and decreasing competitiveness. Tell me how the PVV will go about solving these. Already they’ve made a mockery of themselves by objecting to a raise in retirement age when it is clear there wouldn’t be enough money in the pot to pay for all the old people in future. Not a single political party is dealing with the real issues. Most parties are only interested in getting elected, period.
Tuesday 16 March 2010, 4:20
I would thing the biggest issue is the issue of criminal Moroccans and Islamofascism gripping the Netherlands. The answer to both problems is to repatriate these people. The problem of the unsustainable welfare state will then be solved. Geert Wilders has the right ideas.
Wednesday 17 March 2010, 16:34
The danish “Radikal Venstre” should govern the Netherlands.
There is no genuine left-social-liberal party left.
The D66 isnt left, liberal nor social anymore.
Ironically, even the PVV and VVD defend more of these values as the D66 now.
The PvdA should be moved to the museum.
You can mix quite a lot of the ingredients of these parties into one, but if you have 3 or 4 of these parties in one coalition, you only got a terrible mess, you dont recognize the party you voted for.
If you vote for Wilders, he isnt “fascist” nor “right-wing”, you may get a coalition with knuckleheads from the CU or even worse, religious splinter parties.
If you vote for the VVD, you may get the PvdA and the CdA again.
Wednesday 17 March 2010, 20:39
Mr Chaudry:
If you see no difference between Geert Wilders and the Gestapo might I suggest you do some reading on the subject of the Third Reich. There is no similarity at all. I know how your ilk likes to stir this pot to manipulate the views of others. But your incessant comparison between Neo-Nazis only serves to show how manipulative you are and no one will take you seriously if you continue to make these outrageous comments. If you wish to be taken seriously, and judging by the frequency of your posts you seem to desire this, you might try being honest in your commentary. I know this will weaken your argument against the xenophobic PVV but in time you will gain credibility. If you REALLY want to discuss Neo-Nazis why not discuss the desired implementation of Sharia law by radical Islamofascists trying to take over the Netherlands? Surely you can make that comparison because it would be a good one indeed.
Friday 19 March 2010, 3:02
I am looking forward to Wilders becoming the next Netherlands PM!
he is defending your country’s liberties and freedoms by holding the barbarians at the gates. tolerance is always the way forward, however you must not be tolerant of those who wish you harm, those who aim to destroy you by taking away your freedoms. the Netherlands defended the Jews against Hitler, but who will defend the Netherlands against Radical Islam?
you must not be intimidated and afraid to speak your mind – and that is what wilders is showing the world – freedom of speech is slowly eroding away in NL thats why you must protect yourselves.
lets all REMEMBER that HITLER came to power inside a DEMOCRACY, and then used the tools of the Democracy to disable it.
SAY NO TO THE DISABLING OF EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES
Friday 19 March 2010, 13:52
I would like to ask Wilders and all his like-minded followers, what they think of all the priests who have been abusing children for years? And what about the Dutch POLICEMAN who murdered a 12 year old girl who was his neighbour? And what about all those dog owners who let their dogs urinate and defecate on pavements and public parks? And what about all the illegal women who are brought to Holland under false pretences and forced into prostitution? Are these the “Christian-Jewish values and norms” you speak of so fondly and which you would like Muslims and other immigrants to follow?
Friday 19 March 2010, 16:29
This whole notion of “islamification” is a myth which one can see from a little bit of research from the PEW center, Gallop and even from stories about Dutch Muslims for this newsite.
So – this means that the Dutch voters could install Wilders as the PM based on the myth of “islamification,” which is NOT happening anywhere in Europe?!
Saturday 20 March 2010, 22:24
It seems that many Netherlanders are blind to the danger of Islam extremists.Geert Wilders may be to radical, but perhaps he can act as an catalist to open the eyes of many to force governments to act a bit more realisticly to the danger of the influence of Islamic imams.Too many governments in too many different countries are too complacent in defending the true nature of their peoples culture.Sure there should be freedom of expression,but only within certain bounds.
Monday 22 March 2010, 13:03
@ Jan in Canada:
Please note that citizens of the Netherlands are not referred to as “Netherlanders” but as “Dutch”. This word you used does exist in the English language. For all things and people coming from or relating to The Netherlands, the correct adjective to use is “Dutch”. If you’re going to discuss this country and it’s people, than you should at least have a basic knowledge of what it is you’re talking about.
And please note that all imams are Muslims (not Islamic). There is no such thing as an atheist imam or a Jewish imam or a Christian imam.
The stupidity you are preaching about Holland and Islam is not appreciated. Please keep your ignorant opinions in Canada.
Tuesday 23 March 2010, 17:13
Correction:
“This word you used does NOT exist in the English language.”
Wednesday 24 March 2010, 19:21
Geert Wilders can govern the Netherlands. He understands the imminent danger imposed by Islamic extremism on the tiny country of the Netherlands. He can defend the Dutch secular humanist culture and it’s traditions from intolerant muslims who want to foist their bigotry on the Dutch. Short of sending them back where they came from, I am not sure what else he can do besides sound the alarm so muslims don’t ruin the country more than they have. They contribute nothing but hate and then complain when someone tries to stop them from hating. They call this discrimination. I will always vote for Geert. He can govern the Netherlands in the direction of social progress not stone age intolerance professed by imams and the like.
Saturday 27 March 2010, 9:39
“Geert Wilders can govern the Netherlands”
The PVV can’t even form a government in the city of Almere where they won a majority, not to talk of the Netherlands.
I agree that Islam poses certain problems that need to be addressed in the Netherlands but the PVV is the least of the parties able to do effectively. It is all rhetoric and no substance.
Tuesday 25 May 2010, 19:17
Well,the cheap and easy insult of “racist” seems to have run its course, as thousands of Dutch wake up to Wilders’ logic, and vote to do something about the Islamic threat. Surely, they can’t all be ‘racist’ too?
Opposing intolerance is not racist or intolerant, it is preserving freedom. It really is that simple.
Sure, you can level the charge of “populist” in the sense that there’s a growing understanding of the truth of what Wilders is saying. And, of course being a ‘populist’ is also sort of the definition of what a politician IS, for better or worse.
Nothing would make me happier than seeing the need for the PVV go away by hearing the thousands, upon thousands of “moderate muslims” shout down their radical brethren and force them to abandon their violent preachings, swear their allegiance to a free and democratic Netherlands, and commit to peaceful coexistence.
Sadly, the silence is deafening.
Sunday 13 June 2010, 14:12
Who is afraid of Islam, they are weak in their faith.
Who is using the hatred of Islam to achieve political gains, he is a shame on the Netherlands. This would open the door of hell, and the Netherlands can not resist the wind, which comes through.