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Dutch Right-Wing Party Keeps High Profile
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A far-right party could win the largest number of seats in the next legislative election in the Netherlands, according to a poll by Maurice De Hond. A prospective tally of seats shows that the Party for Freedom (PvdV) would get 31 seats in the legislature, unchanged since mid-May.
The governing Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA) is second with 29 seats, followed by the Labour Party (PvdA) with 21, the Democrats 66 (D66) with 18, the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) with 14, the Socialist Party (SP) with 13, and the Green Left (GL) with 12. Support is lower for the Christian Union (CU), the Party for the Animals (PvdD), the Reformed Political Party (SGP), and the Proud of the Netherlands (ToN) party.
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."
Earlier this month, the PvdV won four of the 25 Dutch seats in the European Parliament. Celebrating his good showing after the ballot, Wilders said that his party’s popularity will impact the country’s political scene, saying, "I believe that we will be able to redefine the meaning of what is mainstream in this country."
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next parliamentary election?
(Results presented in seats)
|
|
Jun. 6 |
May 16 |
May 2 |
|
Party for Freedom (PvdV) |
31 |
31 |
32 |
|
Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA) |
29 |
31 |
30 |
|
Labour Party (PvdA) |
21 |
22 |
22 |
|
Democrats 66 (D66) |
18 |
17 |
17 |
|
People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
Socialist Party (SP) |
13 |
14 |
14 |
|
Green Left (GL) |
12 |
10 |
11 |
|
Christian Union (CU) |
6 |
5 |
4 |
|
Party for the Animals (PvdD) |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
Reformed Political Party (SGP) |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Proud of the Netherlands (ToN) |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Source: Maurice de Hond
Methodology: Interviews with 1,000 Dutch adults, conducted on May 16, 2009. No margin of error was provided.
