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Dutch Far-Right Party Increases Lead
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The far-right Party for Freedom (PvdV) is rapidly gaining popularity in the Netherlands, according to a poll by Maurice de Hond. A prospective tally of seats shows the PvdV would get 32 mandates in the next legislative election, up four since mid-March.
The ruling Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA) is second with 27 seats, followed by the Labour Party (PvdA) with 22, Democrats 66 with 18, the Socialist Party (SP) with 17, and the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) with 15. Support is lower for the Green Left (GL), the Christian Union (CU), the Party for the Animals (PvdD), the Reformed Political Party (SGP), and Proud of the Netherlands (ToN).
Dutch voters renewed the Second Chamber in November 2006. The 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.
The PvdV has recently gained notoriety due to Geert Wilders, its controversial leader. Last year, Wilders released a movie titled Fitna depicting Islam as a violent religion, and comparing the Koran to Adolf Hitler’s "Mein Kampf". In January 2009, an Amsterdam court ordered prosecutors to call Wilders to trial for inciting hatred. Wilders has called the decision an "attack on public debate."
Wilders was banned from entering Britain in January, after British home secretary Jacqui Smith said his presence in the country "would threaten community security and therefore public security." Wilders was due to attend the opening of his movie there.
Since 2007, defaults on so-called subprime mortgages—credit given to high-risk borrowers—in the U.S. caused volatility in domestic and global financial markets and ultimately pushed the United States economy into a recession. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The crisis has affected the global financial and credit systems, and triggered layoffs in companies around the world.
Yesterday, Balkenende expressed satisfaction with some of the proposals outlined at the G-20 economic summit that took place in London, England, saying, "If all the leaders here can say that they will not take protectionist measures then that is an important signal."
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next parliamentary election?
(Results presented in seats)
|
|
Mar. 28 |
Mar. 14 |
Feb. 28 |
|
Party for Freedom (PvdV) |
32 |
28 |
27 |
|
Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA) |
27 |
27 |
26 |
|
Labour Party (PvdA) |
22 |
23 |
21 |
|
Democrats 66 (D66) |
18 |
18 |
19 |
|
Socialist Party (SP) |
17 |
18 |
18 |
|
People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) |
15 |
17 |
17 |
|
Green Left (GL) |
10 |
10 |
11 |
|
Christian Union (CU) |
4 |
4 |
5 |
|
Party for the Animals (PvdD) |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Reformed Political Party (SGP) |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Proud of the Netherlands (ToN) |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Source: Maurice de Hond
Methodology: Interviews with 1,000 Dutch adults, conducted on Mar. 28, 2009. No margin of error was provided.