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Dutch Shocked by New Political Party
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the Netherlands believe there is no room in their country's political scene for the recently created Charity, Freedom and Diversity (NVD) party, according to a poll by MijnOpinie.nl. 79 per cent of respondents believe the political organization should be outlawed.
Last month, the NVD presented its platform. The party seeks to lower the legal age for sexual relations in the Netherlands from 16 years to 12 years, decriminalize child pornography, bestiality and the consumption of all drugs, and make train travel free.
In order to officially take part in the January 2007 legislative election, the NVD requires 570 signatures of support. Party co-founder Ad van den Berg explained his rationale for allowing paedophilia, saying, "A ban just makes children curious." 79 per cent of respondents think the NVD is intolerable.
In the January 2003 election, the Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA) elected 44 lawmakers to the 150-seat Second Chamber. CDA member Jan Peter Balkenende has acted as minister president since July 2002. In early 2003, Balkenende established his second coalition government with the VVD and Democrats 66 (D66).
D66 leader Lousewies van der Laan expressed dismay at the NVD's platformn, declaring, "These people need a psychiatrist, not a political party."
Polling Data
Should the Charity, Freedom and Diversity (NVD) party be outlawed?
Yes | 75% |
No | 17% |
Do you think the Charity, Freedom and Diversity (NVD) party is admissible, or intolerable as a political party?
Intolerable | 79% |
Admissible | 16% |
Source: MijnOpinie.nl
Methodology: Online interviews with 823 Dutch adults, conducted on May 30, 2006. No margin of error was provided.
