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There are elections here tomorrow, for provincial parliaments. Those elected tomorrow eventually elect the Senators.

The Senate (Eerste Kamer), which has 75 members, elected for a four year term through the provincial councillors on the basis of the proportional representation at the provincial elections.

(Wiki)

No holds barred in last campaigning ahead of provincial vote

Tuesday 01 March 2011

With one day to go before the crucial provincial elections, political parties are making last-ditch efforts to attack their opponents, particularly the PVV, in order to win vital votes.

The anti-Islam party is making its debut in the elections and is expected to emerge as the second biggest party in a number of provinces, including Noord-Holland and Limburg.

Alexander Pechtold, leader of the liberal democrats, used a televised debate on Monday night to accuse the PVV of whipping up mass hysteria about immigration.

‘There has been no mass immigration for years. This is mass hysteria from the PVV,’ Pechtold said.

Cuts

Labour leader Job Cohen said the ruling alliance’s policies are ‘unjust, unfair and largely anti-social’. He said the PVV favours cuts in welfare benefits and special education and that the pledge to get 3,000 more police officers on the beat has failed.

The results of the provincial vote will determine the make-up of the senate, or upper house of parliament, and the ruling alliance is hoping to win a slim majority. Opinion polls indicate this is unlikely, but the results are too close to call

The leaders of the senate campaigns for the two ruling parties, the conservative VVD liberals and Christian Democrats, both argued that cuts are needed now to stop problems in the future.

‘This government deserves a fair chance. We are not going back to the Middle Ages with these cuts,’ said CDA leader Elco Brinkman.

The Christian Democrats are expected to be hammered, particularly in their traditional rural strongholds.

Problems

According to an analysis by the Volkskrant, failing to achieve a majority in the 75 seat senate will stop the government getting controversial legislation on the statute books, particularly its plans to curb immigration and cut spending on education.

A final televised debate takes place on the Nos on Tuesday night at 20.30 hours.

http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... rmd%3Divns

Heres the news I found about the elections ...not sure what it all means us ,as in ACDers.

Pretty good news. Sad to see the PVV gain at the expense of the CDA.

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Dutch government faces loss of Senate majority
03.03.2011



The Dutch government looks set to fall short of a majority in the Senate after regional elections. The coalition might find it hard to govern, even with help from an anti-Islam party that enjoyed relative success.

The Dutch government appeared set to fall narrowly short of a majority in the country's Senate on Thursday morning, taking just 37 out of 75 upper-house seats after a regional election, according to exit polls.

Figures suggest Prime Minister Mark Rutte's five-month-old coalition could be set for real governing difficulties, needing help from both the left and right to pass laws.

Big winners in the Wednesday elections were the Freedom Party (PVV), which was taking part in the regional ballot for the first time and managed 12 percent of the vote.

The biggest losers appeared to be the Maxime Verhagen's Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party, which has ruled in a formal coalition with Rutte's Liberals (VVD) since last year, with the help of a looser arrangement with the PVV. Support for the Christian Democrats plunged to 14 percent, down from a 25 percent showing in 2007.

With 20 percent, the prime minister's VVD had the largest voter share, followed by the social democratic Labor Party which earned between 17 and 18 percent, according to the exit poll by Synovate for Dutch public television network NOS.

Dependent on lower house

Rutte's government is already dependent on the PVV, led by the controversial figure Geert Wilders, in the lower house. In return for support on certain issues, the coalition agreed to a pact with Wilders to take a tougher line on immigration, especially from Muslim countries.

However, if all three parties fall short of a majority in the Senate - which must approve all legislation - the government's agenda would need support from outside.

Wilders' party has built its electoral base on promises to reduce immigration from Islamic countries, to reject any increase in retirement ages and to oppose any easing of redundancy legislation in favor of companies.

The PVV's success might mean that openly anti-Islamic politicians gain seats on the Senate for the first time.

Intention to thwart government

During the election campaign, Job Cohen, leader of the opposition Labor Party, said he would aim to thwart the ruling cabinet in its business in the Senate.

Planned government cuts on social spending of some 18 billion euros ($25 billion) could prove contentious, as well as Wilders' demand for the Netherlands to ban certain head coverings used by Muslims from being worn in public.

Rutte's government may be able to win support from smaller parties on the center-right, but may still find it difficult to command an absolute majority. Analysts have suggested that repeated rejection of legislation by the Senate may force the government to quit.

Voters on Wednesday elected 566 members to 12 provincial parliaments, which will elect the 75 members of the senate in May.

Turnout was about 54 percent of 13 million registered voters, the first time more than half of the electorate has registered a vote since 1995.

Author: Richard Connor (dpa, Reuters)
Editor: Martin Kuebler




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Marco wrote:Pretty good news.

WHAT?????? It could not be worse. The Eerste Kamer now has more conservative right wingers then since before WWII. This is not good at all. If I was a middle or left Dutchie I would be running like my hair was on fire. Geert Wilders got more votes in Limburg then anyone else.

milehigh wrote:

Marco wrote:Pretty good news.

WHAT?????? It could not be worse. The Eerste Kamer now has more conservative right wingers then since before WWII. This is not good at all. If I was a middle or left Dutchie I would be running like my hair was on fire. Geert Wilders got more votes in Limburg then anyone else.

The PVV did worse than many polls had them, D66 gained strength in Amsterdam and the government does not have a majority in the Eerste Kamer, so yes, it could have been much worse. This plays well into Cohen's plans to snowplow controversial legislation

Did you think the PVV would simply vanish and VVD supporters were going to turn PvdA in six months? At least they did not gain any legislative strength.

Interesting, there are a number of 'regional parties' that only compete in these provincial elections. Theoretically, if they band together, they could form a Senate seat.

Also, the 50Plus party has at least one Senate seat, not sure if they are the biggest supporters of the coffeeshops.

from the article you posted. You understand what this means I assume?

"Voters on Wednesday elected 566 members to 12 provincial parliaments, which will elect the 75 members of the senate in May."

It means they have the right to put almost anyone they choose into the Tweede Kamer. It just gets worse. The PVV got 12%. That's like saying the communist party in American got 12%. Can you imagine? Insanity rules the Netherlands at the moment.

milehigh wrote:from the article you posted. You understand what this means I assume?

"Voters on Wednesday elected 566 members to 12 provincial parliaments, which will elect the 75 members of the senate in May."

It means they have the right to put almost anyone they choose into the Tweede Kamer. It just gets worse. The PVV got 12%. That's like saying the communist party in American got 12%. Can you imagine? Insanity rules the Netherlands at the moment.

You lost me, as usual. Obviously your quote above is true, that votes went to the polls yesterday. Based on those results, the government does not have a majority in the Eerste Kamer, making it easier for the left to block legislation, which may lead to the fall of the current coalition.

The election yesterday has no impact on the Tweede Kamer, those elections were in June, so its not clear what you mean by 'they can put anyone they want in the TC."

Clear that up, then we can deal with equating the PVV with CPUSA.

MHD, I think a better comparison of the PVV would be the Tea Party in the US.


_____________

No cabinet majority, PVV biggest winner and biggest loser

Thursday 03 March 2011

The anti-Islam PVV emerged as both the biggest winner and the biggest loser in Wednesday’s provincial elections.

Geert Wilder’s party will debut in the senate with 10 seats and is now the biggest party in his home province of Limburg, but it lost the most support compared with the June general election and is now in fourth place nationwide.

The provincial election results are widely seen as a referendum on Mark Rutte’s minority coalition between his conservative liberal VVD and the Christian Democrats and propped up by the PVV.

No majority

With nearly all the votes counted, the alliance is set to fall short of an overall majority in the senate by one seat, meaning it will be forced to rely on other parties to force through controversial legislation, such as education cuts.

The exact make up of the 75-seat senate will not be finalised until May 23, when the provincial councils give their vote. However, it appears as if the VVD will be the biggest party with 16, the PvdA (Labour) on 14, CDA on 11 and PVV on 10.

The liberal democrats D66 were also major gainers in the provincial vote and are set to have six seats in the senate, up from two.

Limburg

Commenting on the PVV results, Wilders said: ‘The Dutchman has once again taken the PVV to its heart… Henk and Ingrid’s party is here to stay… we will give Limburg back to the Limburgers, Friesland to the Frisians and the Netherlands to the Dutch.’

The PVV is now the biggest party in 16 of the country’s 400 plus electoral areas, including Venlo, Ridderkerk, Spijkenisse and Vlaardingen.

Nevertheless, in The Hague and Almere, the only two areas where the party contested the local elections a year ago, the PVV has lost support.

Compared with the June general election, support for the VVD, CDA and PvdA is more or less unchanged. But the PVV has gone down from 15.4% to 12.8%.

If the provincial results translate to the senate as expected, the make up of the upper house would be as follows:

VVD 16 (14)
PvdA 14 (14)
CDA 11 (21)
PVV 10
SP 8 (12)
D66 6 (2)
Groenlinks 5 (4)
CU 2 (4)
SGP 1 (2)
PvdD 1 (1)
50PLUS 1

For the Telegraaf's comparison of the party performances in the previous provincial elections and last year's national vote, plus the situation in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague, click here

Marco wrote:The election yesterday has no impact on the Tweede Kamer, those elections were in June, so its not clear what you mean by 'they can put anyone they want in the TC."

Clear that up, then we can deal with equating the PVV with CPUSA.

"Voters on Wednesday elected 566 members to 12 provincial parliaments, which will elect the 75 members of the senate in May."


I wasn't making a direct comparison of party lines. Only voting numbers. Right on the Tweede Kamer, I meant the Eerste Kamer. Sorry. The PVV has more potential for seats in the senate then ever before. I believe the coalition will strengthen, which may be good for some, but not for my lot and any other reasonable people IMO.

I am glad you are taking an interest. Cheers,

milehigh wrote:

Marco wrote:The election yesterday has no impact on the Tweede Kamer, those elections were in June, so i ts not clear what you mean by 'they can put anyone they want in the TC."

Clear that up, then we can deal with equating the PVV with CPUSA.

"Voters on Wednesday elected 566 members to 12 provincial parliaments, which will elect the 75 members of the senate in May."


I wasn't making a direct comparison of party lines. Only voting numbers. Right on the Tweede Kamer, I meant the Eerste Kamer. Sorry. The PVV has more potential for seats in the senate then ever before. I believe the coalition will strengthen, which may be good for some, but not for my lot and any other reasonable people IMO.

I am glad you are taking an interest. Cheers,

Ok, no worries as its complicated...some of my Dutch colleagues had to Wikipedia to explain how these elections work last week

The coalition may strengthen, there is no doubt about it. Hopefully not.

I hate the PVV also, but they do represent a bloc of voters here, imho similar to the Tea Party in the US.

milehigh said:

The PVV got 12%. That's like saying the communist party in American got 12%

Marco said:

I hate the PVV also, but they do represent a bloc of voters here, imho similar to the Tea Party in the US.

MH has compared PVV to communists in this thread, and Marco has compared PVV to U.S. Tea Party.

One could not get farther apart in politics than communists and Tea Party.

No wonder this shit is so confusing....

Lafe wrote:milehigh said:

The PVV got 12%. That's like saying the communist party in American got 12%

Marco said:

I hate the PVV also, but they do represent a bloc of voters here, imho similar to the Tea Party in the US.

MH has compared PVV to communists in this thread, and Marco has compared PVV to U.S. Tea Party.

One could not get farther apart in politics than communists and Tea Party.

No wonder this shit is so confusing....

I think MHD was speaking more to the shock to society if the communist party won 12% The PVV's policies are certainly different, anti-immigrant and populist.

More good news. Basically, there are all these small regional parties. Together with the 50Plus party, they will have 2 seats, denying the government a majority. Although its not written anywhere I can find in English, it seems the regional parties and the 50Plus are not going to support the existing government. So the Senate may be able to block controversial legislation. Whether they will do that with anti-coffeeshop legislation remains to be seen.

FYI, did you know there is a Christian party here that opposes the right to vote for WOMEN!

Prime minister denies senate alliance with fundamentalist SGP

Sunday 06 March 2011

Prime minister Mark Rutte has denied the coalition has agreed to form an alliance with the fundamentalist Christian party SGP in the upper house of parliament, or senate.

The minority cabinet made up of Rutte’s conservative Liberal VVD and the Christian Democrats already has an alliance with the anti-Islam PVV to ensure economic policy can pass through the lower house.

But at last week’s provincial elections, the alliance fell one seat short of a majority in the upper house. The SGP, which opposes votes for women and regards homosexuality as a sin, has one seat.

Common policies

Rutte said the coalition has not made any agreements on support in the senate and but said there are some common policy areas with the SGP . ‘It is a trustworthy party and there is a lot of hope and happiness within it,’ the prime minister is quoted as saying.

One of the first acts of the new government last year was to announce plans to tighten up Sunday trading laws, even though the VVD had opposed new controls during the campaign. The move was widely seen as a gesture to the SGP by the coalition, which only has a majority of one in the lower house.

The SGP, which believes the country should be run according to Biblical principles, said immediately after last week’s vote that it had no intention of allowing the government to fall ‘for the sake of it’.

© DutchNews.nl

lets see if I've got this right-

I take it the PVV is Wilders' party.

D66 I think is a left of centre liberal party and tend to side with Labour, whereas the VVD are a more free market liberal party and side with the Christian Democrats.