July 03, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The ruling party continues to lead all other political organizations in the Netherlands, according to a poll by Maurice de Hond. A prospective tally suggests that the Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA) would garner 32 seats in the next legislative election, down three since early June.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The ruling party continues to lead all other political organizations in the Netherlands, according to a poll by Maurice de Hond. A prospective tally suggests that the Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA) would garner 32 seats in the next legislative election, down three since early June.

The Proud of the Netherlands (ToN) movement and the Socialist Party (SP) are tied with 18 mandates, followed by the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) with 17 seats, the Labour Party (PvdA) with 16 mandates, both the Democrats 66 (D66) and the Party for Freedom (PvdV) with 14 seats, and the Green Left (GL) with 11 mandates. Support is lower for the Christian Union (CU), the Party for the Animals (PvdD), and the Reformed Political Party (SGP).

Dutch voters renewed the Second Chamber in November 2006. The governing CDA led by current minister president Jan Peter Balkenende secured 41 out of 150 seats. In February 2007, a coalition encompassing the CDA, the PvdA of Wouter Bos, and the CU of Andre Rouvouet was assembled.

Last month, Nout Wellink, president of the Dutch central bank, criticized Balkenende’s proposal to cap the salaries of civil servants at the same amount the prime minister earns, saying, "The job of prime minister is the only function with no market and using it as the norm is idiotic. (...) Pegging top civil servants pay to this amount makes it harder to find and keep good people."

Polling Data

What party would you vote for in the next parliamentary election?
(Results presented in seats)

	Jun. 22	Jun. 8	May 25
Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA)	32	35	32
Proud of the Netherlands (ToN)	18	21	23
Socialist Party (SP)	18	15	16
People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD)	17	15	14
Labour Party (PvdA)	16	16	19
Democrats 66 (D66)	14	14	14
Party for Freedom (PvdV)	14	11	10
Green Left (GL)	11	11	10
Christian Union (CU)	6	7	7
Party for the Animals (PvdD)	2	2	3
Reformed Political Party (SGP)	2	2	2

Source: Maurice de Hond
Methodology: Interviews with 1,000 Dutch adults, conducted on Jun. 22, 2008. No margin of error was provided.