Dutch general elections

[Baltenstein]

The Netherlands will vote for a new parliament in less than four weeks and I noticed we don't have a thread for that yet. With the Netherlands being an important core member of the Eurozone, the elections are relevant for the rest of Europe as well, so I figured we could use one. Normally this would have been your job, Dutch NSGers...(*points accusingly at Dutch NSGers*)...but I I'll just make one instead.

I'm not too well-informed about Dutch politics, so I'll just post the most relevant political parties with the respective core ideology they identify with:

VVD (Conservative)

PvdA (Social Democrats)

PVV (Euroskeptics)

SP (Socialists)

CDA (Christian Democracy)

D66 (Liberalism, Centrism)

CU (Christian conservatives)

GL (Greens)

SGP (Christian conservatives)

The Netherlands are currently being governed by a grand coalition between the PvdA and the VVD (pretty much like Germany and Austria). Geert Wilder's party, the PVV, has been leading the polls lately, with the Conservatives following in second place. Beyond that, it's pretty much a touch-and-go between the various smaller parties:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_gen ... nion_polls

While the Netherlands could, in theory, become the next case of the "Brexit/Trump" effect, I've been told that Geert Wilders forming an effective government is really, really unlikely, even if he comes in first place, due to the Dutch political system requiring the government to be formed with an absolute majority, and no other major party being willing to participate in a Wilders-led coalition.
Personally, as with other Euroean elections, I favor the most centrist and Europeanist approach. So I'd probably throw my vote for D66, if I was Dutch.

Thoughts, NSG?

[The Huskar Social Union]

Dont know much about Dutch politics myself, if i had to pick a party to vote for if i was dutch, idk probably the Socialist party.

Personally just hope the PVV and Wilders does not win.

edit: cut out a lot of rambling

[Populi-Terrae]

I don't really care about Dutch politics.

As long as the PVV stays out of government, I'm happy.

[The Alma Mater]

You forgot the Animal Rights Party (pvdd) and the "50Plus" party for the elderly- both of which currently have seats in parliament

Some notable "new" parties include "DENK" (officially "anti-discrimination", in practice it seems it is mostly pro-Erdogan), "Art1kel" (also anti-discrimination, by "anti-zwarte-Piet" activist Sylvana Simons), the "non-voters" who promise to do nothing whatsoever when elected and "Geenpeil" - who will hold a poll every time they vote.

Some returning "losers" include the Pirates (in favour of privacy and a free internet, notably lead by a fetishmodel) and the UFO party "mens en spirit",which is now combined with the Basic Income party.

[Baltenstein]

You forgot the Animal Rights Party (pvdd) and the "50Plus"party for the elderly- both of which currently have seats in parliament

The poll could only fit in so many options.

Some notable "new" parties include "DENK" (officially "anti-discrimination", in practice it seems it is mostly pro-Erdogan)

Ah yes, I've heard about them. We have a party like that in Germany too, the BIG. In theory, they represent immigrant rights and multiculturalism, in practice, they're almost exclusively Turks - and some Arabs - glorifying Erdogan and making demands.

The AKP creating 5th Column parties in countries with large Turkish communities seems to be a thing now.

[Purple Empire]

I'm going to vote SGP.
Conservative nationalist and proud on it.

[The Alma Mater]

I'm going to vote SGP.
Conservative nationalist and proud on it.

So a womans place is in the kitchen and Islam is an inferior religion ?

[Purple Empire]

I'm going to vote SGP.
Conservative nationalist and proud on it.

So a womans place is in the kitchen and Islam is an inferior religion ?

Did I say that? I can see you're not Dutch.

[The Alma Mater]

So a womans place is in the kitchen and Islam is an inferior religion ?

Did I say that?

The unfitness of women to lead or be active in politics has been a keypoint in SGP doctrine for almost a century.
The "Islam is inferior" statement was made a few weeks ago and got a lot of media attention - and caused the direct competion (CU) to offer a counterstatement.

I can see you're not Dutch.

Desondanks heb ik al langer stemrecht dan jij waarschijnlijk leeft

[Purple Empire]

Did I say that?

The unfitness of women to lead or be active in politics has been a keypoint in SGP doctrine for almost a century.
The "Islam is inferior" statement was made a few weeks ago and got a lot of media attention - and caused the direct competion (CU) to offer a counterstatement.

I can see you're not Dutch.

Desondanks heb ik al langer stemrecht dan jij waarschijnlijk leeft

Women are not equal to men but equivalent. And the Islam is not an inferior religion but another religion of another culture.

Als je daar zo zeker van bent stem je zeker 50+?
:3

[Minoa]

D66 is the closest if I could vote in my opinion. Definitely not PVV because Trump's immigration hatred or whatever one calls it is already creeping into my mental health (clarification: no crisis at this time).

I am not sure which party in NL and UK are more unaligned and progressive liberal, as in neutral towards both NATO and Russia – on the grounds that such rivalry is just getting so old that the Non-Aligned Movement might need some modern European democracies to entice other NAM members that representative democracy is important, no bloc alignment required.

[Hazestan]

Dutchie here.

Definitly voting for the PirateParty, maybe GreenLeft. PVV and CDA trying to steal my marijuana. Ain't no way that will happen.

DENK is a meme party and I hope they die a quick death by winning 0 seats.

So a womans place is in the kitchen and Islam is an inferior religion ?

Did I say that? I can see you're not Dutch.

Why else would you vote for SGP?

Their website is literally closed on Sunday

[The Alma Mater]

Dutchie here.

Definitly voting for the PirateParty, maybe GreenLeft. PVV and CDA trying to steal my marijuana. Ain't no way that will happen.

CU wants to take it as well. And your right to listen to Metal

Hmm, let us see what other fun tidbits we can mention that might amuse foreigners..

- The PVVs party program fits on a single sheet of paper. There is an even shorter version for people who still think tl;dr.
- The leader of Green Left is being accused of "dramatising" his childhood to appear more likeable.
- The SGP indeed closes its website on sundays
- CU politicians have stated that listening to metal will turn people into Breiviks and that one should turn away from the darkness
- There was a leak in the "stemwijzer" ( a popular website that helps people making up their mind what to vote based on 30 questions) which made it possible to see which parties were advised most. The party for the animals was doing incredibly well - but most people refuse to vote for it out of principle.
- DENK has been accused of using fake accounts on Facebook,Twitter etc. to generate sympathy for the party.

Who has more ?

[Union of Despotistan]

I still cant grasp Geert Wilders.

How can you be "far right" if you are in the same bed with the jews ?
This guy is most likely controlled opposition.

[Baltenstein]

I'm kinda confused as to why there appear to be not one, but two Christian fundamentalist parties in Dutch politics, to be honest. And two conservative center-right parties as well (VVD and CDA).

Germany and France are both several times bigger than the Netherlands, but have way less relevant (as in: 5 % upwards) parties.

[Baltenstein]

I still cant grasp Geert Wilders.

How can you be "far right" if you are in the same bed with the jews ?

You know, the year is 2017, not 1937.

[Brilliania]

VVD listed as "conservative"

[Juristonia]

I've been a card carrying member of the SP for ages now, but this is the first time I'm doubting who I'm voting for.
Leaning towards the PirateParty.

Apparently the PVV has been dropping in a couple of the more recent polls.
Hopefully that'll continue. Although looking at the VVD plans, I'm no longer sure they're a better option anymore either.

I still cant grasp Geert Wilders.

How can you be "far right" if you are in the same bed with the jews ?
This guy is most likely controlled opposition.

Tinfoil hats look silly on everyone.

[The Blaatschapen]

I'm kinda confused as to why there appear to be not one, but two Christian fundamentalist parties in Dutch politics, to be honest. And two conservative center-right parties as well (VVD and CDA).

Germany and France are both several times bigger than the Netherlands, but have way less relevant (as in: 5 % upwards) parties.

VVD is liberal conservative. Law and Order. They were in favour of gay marriage when it was an issue (early 00s) while CDA is more status quo on those things. Mind, VVD is not exactly putting it on the agenda (D66, GroenLinks usually are), but they're not usually blocking it either.

CDA are Christian Democrats, they're a fusion of 3 parties (back in the 70s). A catholic one and two protestant ones. They're more status quo when it comes to LGBT rights.

In a similar vein, you could argue, why 2 liberal parties (D66 and VVD are both part of ALDE).

I think "history" is the most concise answer here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillarisation is a good starting point.

Germany has a 5% rule for parliament. You need 5% of the votes to get in. Netherlands does not have that. If you have enough votes for one whole seat, (1/150th of all valid non-blank votes), you get in.

[The Liberated Territories]

VVD doesn't seem that bad and I can admire Rutte at least.

[Brabantum]

WILDERS GA ERVOOR JONGE

[The Alma Mater]

I'm kinda confused as to why there appear to be not one, but two Christian fundamentalist parties in Dutch politics, to be honest.

SGP is somewhat more conservative than the CU. Website closed on sundays, refusing women to run until forced by the courts only a few years back, openly denouncing other religions etc. Traditionally the CU was more lenient, left-leaning and mostly strongly opposed to things like abortion - but recently they have started to expand into being against metalmusic and drugs.
There is actually a third fundie party - Jesus Lives. Which literally wants people to do exactly what Jesus did. It has never won a seat. Sofar.

CDA is the "yes, the Bible matters, but let us not limit ourselves" party.

[The Blaatschapen]

VVD listed as "conservative"

Fiscally conservative, definitely. Police, Defense, also usually conservative issues. They're lukewarm progressive on the ethical issues (medical, LGBT). While it's perhaps not the best descriptor, it doesn't entirely fail it either.

[Crylante]

I like GreenLeft and the Socialist Party.

[Greater Miami Shores]

It woud be a shame if the PVV were to win a plurality of the vote and not be able to form the government. If Geert Wilders is with the Jews he cant be that bad. Just like Trump is with the Jews. What is tearing the European union apart, which I acutally support, is not so much integration as a union of European nations, as the immigration of a very different non European culture. The Netherlands needs Geert Wilders too make and keep the Netherlands Great Again. 11 of 31 have voted for the PVV in the poll, 35.48387096774194 %