NationStates Jolt Archive

Is anyone following the Dutch second chamber elections?

These are the largest parties, their current amount of seats and their expected amount of seats (19th November 2006):

POLITICAL PARTIES:
The most important parties (and the only ones with a chance to get at least one seat) are:
CDA : Christian Democratic Appeal. moderately Conservative.
PvdA : Party for the Labour. Social Democarts.
VVD : People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. Liberal party.
SP : Socialist Party. former Maoists (derived from Communism).
Lijst Vijf Fortuyn : List Five Fortuyn. right-winged populists. direct offspring of the assassinated (2002) Pim Fortuyn a right-winged, islam-critic homosexual politician. he was assassinated by a leftist for ideological reasons.
GroenLinks : Green Left. green party. only political party in parliament led by a woman (Femke Halsema).
D66 : Democrats 66. Progressive-Liberal and Radical-Democrat.
ChristenUnie ChristianUnion. Protestant Orthodox, socially conservative, economically moderately social democrat.
SGP : Politcal Reformed Party. Fundamentalist Christians. opposes euthanasia, abortion, same-sex marriage, prostitution and pornography.
Partij vd Vrijheid : Party for Freedom. Conservative party, extremely critical on immigration.
Partij voor de Dieren : Party for the Animals. Environmentalists. led by a woman.
EénNL : One Netherlands. right-winged populists. indirect "offspring" of Pim Fortuyn. Critical on immigration and integration. Interesting note: 3d man on their candidate list is a Surinamese-Dutch (black) Muslim (Hikmat Mahawat Khan).

Current polls (as for 18th November) show the following distribution of seats for the Second Chamber.

political party / current seats / expected seats (18th November 2006)
CDA 44 / 45 (+1)
PvdA 42 / 35 (-7)
VVD 28 / 20 (-8)
SP 9 / 24 (+19) :(
Lijst Vijf Fortuyn 8 / 2 (-6)
GroenLinks 8 / 9 (+1)
D66 6 / 2 (-4)
ChristenUnie 3 / 5 (+2)
SGP 2 / 2
Partij vd Vrijheid 0 / 4 (+4)
Partij voor de Dieren 0 / 1 (+1)
EénNL 0 / 1 (+1)

I'm not sure what kind of coalition I prefer. Certainly not a Conservative one with xenophobic tendencies, but also not a Leftist one which will ruin many families. I am hoping for a coalition between Social-Dems and Liberals. I think that's the best for the Netherlands.

I'm not sure what kind of coalition I prefer. Certainly not a Conservative one with xenophobic tendencies, but also not a Leftist one which will ruin many families. I am hoping for a coalition between Social-Dems and Liberals. I think that's the best for the Netherlands.How would a Leftist coalitiion ruin many families?

A vote for the SP is a vote for Communism!

It's not like I care about the elections, Harry Potter for the win.:p

About killer of Pim Fortuyn, that leftist said, he was defending rights of muslims...Sounds familiar, eh?

SGP : Politcal Reformed Party. Fundamentalist Christians. opposes euthanasia, abortion, same-sex marriage, prostitution and pornography.

As well as the idea that woman are equal to men. Though to be fair, they do not think women are less, "just" that they belong in the kitchen while men run the country.

As well as the idea that woman are equal to men. Though to be fair, they do not think women are less, "just" that they belong in the kitchen while men run the country.

I imagine they employ a large number of food tasters.

Which is the "Let's Ban Burqas" Party?

I imagine they employ a large number of food tasters.

Suprisingly, no. Their wives tend to agree with them.

Which is the "Let's Ban Burqas" Party?

Groep Wilders.

As for the SP. I do not trust them. I am unconvinced of their abilities to rule. And if they are capable of ruling, I will disagree with how they rule.

Of course any party has voters from many parts of society. But the Socialist Party is pretty far from representing anything I consider my background or in the benefit of my family and my direct environment.

Volkert van der Graaf wasn't just defending Muslims. He was defending the weak in society, that's his story anyway.

Volkert van der Graaf wasn't just defending Muslims. He was defending the weak in society, that's his story anyway.

Considering people promptly elected Pim Fortuyn "the greatest Dutchman of all time" (or at least let him have second place if you believe the desperate attempt of the broadcasting company to make the results seem slightly less stupid) he may have had a point. Perhaps some people need to be protected against their own stupidity.

What point may that be? What do you consider this murder? A preventative strike? Isn't it better to defeat xenophobes in debate rather than murdering populist politicians?

What point may that be? What do you consider this murder? A preventative strike? Isn't it better to defeat xenophobes in debate rather than murdering populist politicians?

*I* do. But I can see where people that believe that giving populists real power is a bad idea are coming from.

I believe their leadership, even with Pim, wouldn't have made the first year. And they wouldn't have the first chamber, so they'd be lame ducks anyway.

If you are against a xenophobic government I say why doesn't one offer innocent illegal immigrants shelter or start talking Arabic and convert to Islam, just to annoy the establishment.

I'm not sure what kind of coalition I prefer. Certainly not a Conservative one with xenophobic tendencies, but also not a Leftist one which will ruin many families. I am hoping for a coalition between Social-Dems and Liberals. I think that's the best for the Netherlands.

While I hope for a 'purple 3' but I doubt it's ever going to happen soon :(

And I'm not sure what I shall vote, I'm only sure about what I shall not vote ;)

About killer of Pim Fortuyn, that leftist said, he was defending rights of muslims...Sounds familiar, eh?
I thought the assassin was an animal rights maniac.

What point may that be? What do you consider this murder? A preventative strike? Isn't it better to defeat xenophobes in debate rather than murdering populist politicians?
I doubt that anyone is going to start saying that killing Pim was the right thing to do.

I hope the Green Party gets into power, perhaps allied with a party of moderate immigration policy.

I was actually in the netherlands on saturday. (BTW I want that day back). Anyway there was some stuff about banning niquabs and burkahs in public places. I wondered if: a) that's actually possible; and b) are the dutch serious about it.

On the other hand, nice airport.

Yeah, that is possible. Rita Verdonk says it is anyway.

And yes the Dutch second chamber is serious about it.

But not many muslims wear them.

As for the SP. I do not trust them. I am unconvinced of their abilities to rule. And if they are capable of ruling, I will disagree with how they rule.

Of course any party has voters from many parts of society. But the Socialist Party is pretty far from representing anything I consider my background or in the benefit of my family and my direct environment.In what way do you believe their policies wouldn't benefit your family?

Yeah, that is possible. Rita Verdonk says it is anyway.

And yes the Dutch second chamber is serious about it.

But not many muslims wear them.
I don't see why the big issue is made over it. I can understand concerns, but considering how tiny the number of people who insist on wearing it is, I don't think it's worth the attention it's getting.

Yeah, that is possible. Rita Verdonk says it is anyway.

And yes the Dutch second chamber is serious about it.

But not many muslims wear them.

Yeah, wasn't it just incumbents trying to rally some support from the Anti-immigrant crowd?

In what way do you believe their policies wouldn't benefit your family?

A more liberal Netherlands is imo better than a Socialist one. we have enough regulations and taxations already. I for one do not really believe in enlightening the lower class, nor do I feel like supporting some who suggested to step out the NATO and re-introduce the euro.

And they shouldn't get their hands on the mortgage benefits.

I thought the assassin was an animal rights maniac.



Yes but that was what he said...

Voting booth closes in 2 hours....

I for one do not really believe in enlightening the lower classEnlightening in what way?
There is a strong need to move towards a knowledge based economy, because we can't compete with low-wage countries. And unless we want millions of unemployed, we'll have to "enlighten" them, in the sense of making sure everyone is educated as well as possible.

There is a strong need to move towards a knowledge based economy, because we can't compete with low-wage countries.

Depends on the area of competition. The low wage countries cannot compete with Europe on the markets for high quality and luxury goods. That just requires craftmanship (carpenters, shipbuilders, jewellers and so on).

I'm not talking about the potentially useful labour force. I'm talking about the dumb (largely) unemployed semi-racist a-social tokkie-like Dutch assholes whom I don't really care about. I feel connection with that kind of people.

I'm not talking about the potentially useful labour force. I'm talking about the dumb (largely) unemployed semi-racist a-social tokkie-like Dutch assholes whom I don't really care about. I feel connection with that kind of people.
Surey proving the need for enlightenment?