Dutch Right poised for poll success

BBC News ^ | March 07 2002

[knighthawk]

A new right-wing party appears to have made strong gains in Dutch local elections, two months before the country votes for a new government.

Parties belonging to the national government coalition have lost about 12% of their regional seats, news agency AP reported.

The right-leaning Leefbaar Nederland (Liveable Netherlands) was the major winner, AP says, scoring landslide victories in some areas.

The movement has a strong anti-immigration agenda.

In Rotterdam, an outspoken former leader of the group is reported to have gained more than one third of the votes, making Leefbaar Nederland the largest party on the city council.

Anti-Muslim comments

Analysts say that the party - which was launched in 1998 - will now almost certainly win seats in the general election on 15 May.

Pim Fortuyn ran as the party's candidate in Rotterdam despite being ousted as its leader for making anti-Muslim comments.

He has since launched his own national party which will field candidates in the general election.

But other parties in Rotterdam have sworn not to share power with him.

Mr Fortuyn, a former sociology professor and outspoken homosexual, had to be escorted by police to the polling station to cast his vote as protesters demonstrated outside his home.

Low turnout

The turnout for the elections was 57.7% - slightly below the turnout of 58.9% four years ago.

In Eindhoven, a group affiliated to Leefbaar Nederland won nearly 19% of the vote.

The leading opposition Christian Democratic Alliance and the Greens also won small gains across the country.

The national government coalition consists of the leading Labour Party under Prime Minister Wim Kok, the Liberal VVD and the left-of-centre Democrats 66.

[knighthawk]

Pim Fortuyn in Rotterdam during the elections

More data:

Total local seats (national total):

Local parties: 2500 seats (8,5% gain)
CDA: 2512 seats, 86 seats gained
PvdA: 1455 seats, 231 seats lost
VVD: 1504 seats, 156 seats lost
D'66: 278 seats, 54 seats lost

Rotterdam, since 1945 governed by the PvdA, number is total seats in local government:

PvdA (socialists): from 15 to 11 seats
VVD (liberal): from 9 to 4 seats
CDA (conservatice): from 6 to 5 seats
SP (socialists): from 4 to 1 seat
Groen Links (socialists): from 4 to 3 seats
D'66 (liberal): from 3 to 2 seats
Pim Fortuyn (newly formed): from 0 to 17 seats

Polls on local election, number is seats in government (Tweede Kamer, total 150 seats):

PvdA: from 45 to 37 seats
VVD: from 38 to 27 seats
CDA: from 29 to 30 seats
D'66: from 14 to 8 seats
Groen Links: from 11 to 9 seats
SP: from 5 to 6 seats
Christian Union: from 5 to 7 seats
SGP: from 3 to 2
Livable Netherlands (new): from 0 to 6 seats
List Fortuyn (new( from 0 to 18 seats

[knighthawk]

Ping

[knighthawk]

Ping

[uncbob]

Wonder what passes for the RIGHT in Holland these days

[WIMom]

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[fortress]

Hey knighthawk, Thanks for the explanation about Dutch politics.
What do you think about Pim Fortuyn: a rightwing homosexual? How is that possible?
Another Andrew Sullivan?

[GuillermoX]

I was under the impression when any "right of center" party won an election in Europe, that the other EU members would impose sanctions on them...

[Argus]

The Dutch Al Rantel.

[GuillermoX]

Anyways knighthawk, you're an asset to this forum. Thanks for your posts.

[knighthawk]

In Denmark this already happened! And also in Portugal.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Hi knighthawk.

I have very good Dutch friends in Scheveningen. I have noticed that their sons (early thirties) are much more conservative than the parents.

They are especially unhappy with the rate of taxation and the numerous government programs. Could this be a generational shift beginning?

[knighthawk]

Fortuyn is anti-islam, but pro-Israel/Jewish. And he is gay. That not a big benefit for you in the facist scene isn't it? Being pro-Israel also doesn't make you very popular either.

By the way: The facists lost badly in the local elections.

[GuillermoX]

Of course, you nutjob...anyone to the right of Ted Kennedy is Hitler reincarnated, in your delusional existence.

[fortress]

But don't facists usually mistreat homosexuals like other minorities? I know the Nazis dealt with them in concentration camps.
This guy must not be so easy to pigeon hole

[knighthawk]

He is pro-Israel
He is anti-islam
He want to start punishing criminals
He want to stop the immigration of economical refugees
He wants to end the moral decay over here:

He's got my vote in the next elections!

[knighthawk]

Yes, you got that right. The youth here is confronted with the way the left wrecked Holland. Fortuyn will get 46% of the young males and 40% of young females as voters. Also the youth are going to be confronted with the way the left gave money away to everyone and now the youth is afraid they will get no or reduced pensions when they get old.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Thank you so much. This is good news !!!!