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All 150 seats in the House of Representatives 76 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 74.6% ( 0.8 pp) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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Early general elections were held in the Netherlands on 12 September 2012 [1] after Prime Minister Mark Rutte handed in his government's resignation to Queen Beatrix on 23 April. The 150 seats of the House of Representatives were contested using party-list proportional representation. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) received a plurality of the votes, followed by the Labour Party (PvdA).
Prior to the election, polls had predicted an increase in support for the Socialist Party, primarily at the expense of the PvdA, [2] but the PvdA regained support during the campaign, which was attributed to the leadership of Diederik Samsom [3] and in the election the Socialist Party failed to improve its performance. The Party for Freedom (PVV) and Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) both lost seats.
After 49 days of negotiations, a new VVD-PvdA centrist government was formed on 5 November 2012, comprising Mark Rutte as prime minister along with 7 VVD ministers and 6 PvdA ministers. [4]
It was the first Netherlands-wide election in which the Caribbean Netherlands participated. [5]
Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government fell after the Party for Freedom (PVV), which had supported the government from outside, refused to sanction the austerity measures the government sought in April 2012. [6] This called for a new early election to be held in September 2012. It is the fourth early election in a row since the Second Kok cabinet fell very near the end of its mandate, which allowed that government to keep the election date to be held as scheduled by the term in May 2002. Early elections were subsequently held in January 2003, November 2006, June 2010 and September 2012. And during that time a total of five governments ended prematurely, as it was possible for the Third Balkenende cabinet (July–November 2006) to be formed without a new election.
In addition to the established parties of Dutch politics, the pensioners' party 50PLUS, founded in 2009, won its first seats in the election.
The Pirate Party claimed that it may enter parliament for the first time with 2 or 3 seats. [7] However, the party achieved only 0.3% of the national vote and no seats.
Hero Brinkman, elected on the Party for Freedom's list, split from the party in March 2012 and founded the Independent Citizens' Party in April 2012 to run in the election on his own. [8] In June 2012, the party merged with Proud of the Netherlands (a party founded by Rita Verdonk, who had resigned from the position of party leader [9] ) to form the Democratic Political Turning Point, with Brinkman as leader. The party achieved 0.1% of the national vote and no seats.
List | Party | Abbreviation | Leader | Details [10] [11] |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie) | VVD | Mark Rutte | |
2. | Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid) | PvdA | Diederik Samsom | Apparentment with GL and SP |
3. | Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid) | PVV | Geert Wilders | |
4. | Christian Democratic Appeal (Christen-Democratisch Appèl) | CDA | Sybrand van Haersma Buma | |
5. | Socialist Party (Socialistische Partij) | SP | Emile Roemer | Apparentment with GL and PvdA |
6. | Democrats 66 (Democraten 66) | D66 | Alexander Pechtold | |
7. | GreenLeft (GroenLinks) | GL | Jolande Sap | Apparentment with PvdA and SP |
8. | ChristianUnion (ChristenUnie) | CU | Arie Slob | Apparentment with SGP |
9. | Reformed Political Party (Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij) | SGP | Kees van der Staaij | Apparentment with CU |
10. | Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren) | PvdD | Marianne Thieme | |
11. | Pirate Party (Piratenpartij) | PPNL | Dirk Poot | |
12. | Party for Human and Spirit (Partij voor Mens en Spirit) | MenS | Lea Manders | Participate in all constituencies, except for the BES islands |
13. | Netherlands Local (Nederland Lokaal) | NL | Ton Schijvenaars | |
14. | Libertarian Party (Libertarische Partij) | LP | Toine Manders | |
15. | Democratic Political Turning Point (Democratisch Politiek Keerpunt) | DPK | Hero Brinkman | Merger of Trots with OBP |
16. | 50PLUS | 50+ | Henk Krol | |
17. | Liberal Democratic Party (Liberaal Democratische Partij) | LibDem | Sammy van Tuyll van Serooskerken | Participate in all constituencies, except for the BES islands |
18. | Anti-Europe Party (Anti Europa Partij) | AeuP | Arnold Reinten | |
19. | Sovereign Independent Pioneers Netherlands (Soeverein Onafhankelijke Pioniers Nederland) | SOPN | Johan Oldenkamp | Participate in all constituencies, except for the BES islands |
20. | Party of the Future (Partij van de Toekomst) | PvdT | Johan Vlemmix | Participate in all constituencies, except for the BES islands |
21. | Political Party NXD (Politieke Partij NXD) | Anil Samlal | Participate only in constituency 9 |
Date | Polling firm | VVD | PvdA | PVV | CDA | SP | D66 | GL | CU | SGP | PvdD | 50 Plus | Pirate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 June 2010 | 2010 Election | 20.4% (31) | 19.6% (30) | 15.5% (24) | 13.7% (21) | 9.9% (15) | 6.9% (10) | 6.6% (10) | 3.3% (5) | 1.7% (2) | 1.3% (2) | – (0) | 0.1% (0) |
22 March 2012 [12] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.1% (34) | 16.8% (26) | 13.9% (21) | 9.4% (14) | 16.8% (26) | 7.7% (11) | 4.5% (7) | 3.3% (5) | 1.5% (2) | 2.4% (4) | 1.1% (1) | — |
5 April 2012 [12] | Ipsos Neth. | 23.6% (36) | 17.1% (26) | 13.3% (20) | 8.8% (13) | 16.3% (25) | 8.7% (13) | 4.1% (6) | 3.2% (5) | 1.4% (2) | 2.0% (3) | 0.8% (1) | — |
19 April 2012 [13] | Ipsos Neth. | 24.0% (37) | 17.3% (27) | 12.0% (18) | 8.2% (12) | 17.0% (26) | 8.8% (13) | 3.5% (5) | 3.3% (5) | 1.6% (2) | 3.1% (4) | 0.8% (1) | — |
27 April 2012 [13] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.4% (34) | 16.5% (25) | 12.1% (18) | 8.4% (13) | 17.2% (26) | 10.6% (16) | 3.3% (5) | 4.0% (6) | 1.7% (2) | 2.2% (3) | 0.8% (1) | — |
5 May 2012 [14] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.9% (35) | 14.7% (23) | 11.4% (17) | 9.0% (14) | 18.5% (28) | 10.1% (15) | 4.1% (6) | 3.6% (5) | 1.4% (2) | 2.9% (4) | 0.8% (1) | — |
12 May 2012 [14] | Ipsos Neth. | 21.4% (33) | 14.5% (22) | 12.7% (19) | 10.3% (16) | 18.5% (28) | 9.9% (15) | 3.8% (5) | 3.9% (6) | 1.3% (2) | 2.5% (3) | 0.8% (0) | — |
18 May 2012 [15] | Ipsos Neth. | 20.1% (31) | 16.0% (24) | 13.8% (21) | 10.7% (16) | 17.3% (27) | 9.8% (15) | 3.8% (5) | 3.4% (5) | 1.4% (2) | 2.5% (3) | 0.7% (0) | — |
25 May 2012 [15] | Ipsos Neth. | 19.8% (30) | 16.2% (25) | 13.4% (20) | 10.3% (16) | 17.5% (27) | 10.3% (16) | 3.8% (5) | 3.7% (5) | 1.4% (2) | 2.3% (3) | 0.8% (1) | — |
2 June 2012 [16] | Ipsos Neth. | 21.0% (32) | 15.3% (24) | 14.1% (22) | 9.4% (14) | 17.6% (27) | 9.7% (15) | 3.7% (5) | 3.4% (5) | 1.6% (2) | 2.3% (3) | 0.8% (1) | — |
15 June 2012 [16] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.3% (34) | 15.5% (24) | 15.3% (23) | 8.0% (12) | 16.6% (25) | 9.6% (15) | 3.3% (5) | 4.0% (6) | 1.4% (2) | 2.1% (3) | 0.7% (1) | — |
29 June 2012 [17] | Ipsos Neth. | 20.8% (32) | 15.1% (23) | 13.1% (20) | 9.4% (14) | 18.3% (28) | 9.3% (14) | 3.2% (5) | 4.5% (7) | 2.1% (3) | 2.3% (3) | 0.9% (1) | — |
6 July 2012 [17] | Ipsos Neth. | 23.0% (35) | 16.0% (25) | 11.9% (18) | 9.4% (14) | 18.8% (29) | 8.7% (13) | 2.7% (4) | 3.9% (6) | 1.6% (2) | 2.4% (3) | 0.8% (1) | — |
13 July 2012 [18] | Ipsos Neth. | 23.3% (36) | 14.7% (23) | 12.4% (19) | 10.5% (16) | 17.8% (27) | 8.3% (13) | 3.6% (5) | 3.6% (5) | 1.6% (2) | 2.3% (3) | 0.8% (1) | — |
27 July 2012 [18] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.2% (35) | 14.9% (23) | 11.9% (18) | 9.5% (15) | 18.8% (29) | 9.4% (14) | 3.1% (4) | 4.5% (6) | 1.5% (2) | 1.9% (3) | 1.2% (1) | — |
10 August 2012 [19] | Ipsos Neth. | 21.0% (32) | 14.3% (22) | 12.6% (19) | 9.6% (15) | 19.8% (31) | 10.2% (15) | 2.6% (4) | 4.2% (6) | 1.4% (2) | 2.5% (3) | 1.2% (1) | — |
17 August 2012 [19] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.7% (35) | 14.9% (23) | 11.9% (18) | 9.0% (14) | 18.4% (29) | 9.5% (14) | 2.7% (4) | 3.4% (5) | 2.0% (3) | 2.5% (3) | 1.4% (2) | — |
24 August 2012 [20] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.1% (34) | 14.0% (22) | 12.4% (19) | 9.3% (14) | 19.8% (30) | 9.5% (14) | 3.4% (5) | 3.9% (6) | 1.6% (2) | 2.0% (3) | 1.1% (1) | — |
31 August 2012 [20] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.1% (34) | 16.6% (26) | 13.2% (20) | 8.9% (13) | 17.1% (27) | 9.2% (14) | 2.9% (4) | 3.5% (5) | 1.5% (2) | 2.6% (4) | 1.0% (1) | — |
3 September 2012 [21] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.7% (35) | 19.3% (30) | 11.7% (18) | 9.0% (14) | 15.4% (24) | 9.5% (14) | 1.7% (3) | 3.1% (4) | 1.3% (2) | 3.0% (4) | 1.8% (2) | — |
5 September 2012 [21] | Ipsos Neth. | 21.6% (34) | 20.5% (32) | 13.3% (20) | 8.0% (12) | 14.2% (22) | 8.3% (13) | 2.7% (4) | 4.1% (6) | 1.6% (2) | 2.2% (3) | 1.8% (2) | 0.6% (0) |
8 September 2012 [22] | Ipsos Neth. | 22.5% (35) | 22.7% (35) | 12.3% (19) | 8.4% (13) | 13.4% (21) | 7.7% (11) | 2.9% (4) | 4.2% (6) | 1.5% (2) | 2.2% (3) | 0.7% (1) | 0.6% (0) |
11 September 2012 [23] | Ipsos Neth. | 24.3 (37) | 23.4 (36) | 11.4% (17) | 8.8% (13) | 13.4% (21) | 6.7% (10) | 2.3% (4) | 3.7% (5) | 1.2% (2) | 2.1% (3) | 1.5% (2) | 0.3% (0) |
Date | Polling firm | VVD | PvdA | PVV | CDA | SP | D66 | GL | CU | SGP | PvdD | 50 Plus | Pirate |
Natixis evaluated on 6 September the most recent opinion polls, and found the likelihood was strongest for the formation of a "purple government" of the pro-EU parties: VVD, CDA, D66, PvdA and, possible GL. It also pointed to other potential governing coalition that would include a pro-austerity government with VVD, CDA, D66, GL and CU; or a centre-left government of CDA, D66, GL and PvdA with a minority of seats, but with outside parliamentary support of the SP. The two largest eurosceptic parties, PVV and SP, are reportedly not interested in building a coalition. A similar scenario to the previous election could re-occur, considering no pre-election alliance will receive votes enough for majority, and thus needs to form a new more broad coalition government, comprising at least three parties. [24]
On 27 April, the two governing coalition parties, VVD and CDA negotiated a deal to reduce the national deficit in 2013 to an acceptable level below 3% of GDP. This deal was also supported by the three opposition parties: D66, GL and the CU. [6]
A ratification of the newly signed Fiscal Compact is unconditionally supported by the four parties: VVD, CDA, D66 and GL. The compact is however opposed by the three parties: PVV, CU and SP, while the PvdA, will only support it provided that the European Commission first grant the Netherlands a two-year exemption to comply, due to the existence of "extraordinary economic circumstances." [25]
The VVD's Mark Rutte is said to be aligned with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in promoting austerity measures, while his closest rival the PvdA's Diederik Samsom's was said to reflect French President Francois Hollande's stimulus measures from its own election this year. A final television debate took place on 11 September, with the economy reportedly the most important issue amongst voters. The day before the debate, Rutte said that he would stop delegating ever increasing powers to the European Union saying: "I am 'Mr No' when it comes to a Brussels that's expanding more and more." Conversely, Samsom said that he was in coordination with Hollande over dealing with the economic crisis. [26] Support for him and the PvdA grew after he was perceived as having the better performance in the debates. He also rejected taking cabinet posts in a coalition government saying: "I will either be prime minister, or I will lead my party in parliament." The vote was also seen as a test of the EU's popularity within the country. [27]
Political analyst Anno Bunnik said that many voters were not keen on repeated early elections. He also pointed to PVV's Geert Wilders' declining popularity after he was viewed as a political opportunist not looking out for the national interest in effectively forcing a snap election. In citing Wilders' labeling as a "sorcerer's apprentice," he also pointed to a possible first-ever loss of seats for the PVV under Wilder's helm. He attributed this to Wilders' inefficiency in the debates of responding to the other party leaders instead of setting the agenda, instead in one debate he got into an argument with Rutte with both leaders calling each other liars in an unprecedented move. [28]
Though opinion polls indicated a close race to gain a majority, [29] the international media indicated a left-leaning government was likely to emerge as a result of the election. [30] However, the French election was cited and countered as a turn in orientation for the government would still not lead to a change in austerity policies. [31]
There was a turn-out of 74.6%, about one percent less than the previous election two years before. The NOS reported the following results after 100% of the votes were counted: [32]
The Kiesraad announced the final results on 17 September. [33] [34]
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | 2,504,948 | 26.58 | 41 | +10 | |
Labour Party | 2,340,750 | 24.84 | 38 | +8 | |
Party for Freedom | 950,263 | 10.08 | 15 | –9 | |
Socialist Party | 909,853 | 9.65 | 15 | 0 | |
Christian Democratic Appeal | 801,620 | 8.51 | 13 | –8 | |
Democrats 66 | 757,091 | 8.03 | 12 | +2 | |
Christian Union | 294,586 | 3.13 | 5 | 0 | |
GroenLinks | 219,896 | 2.33 | 4 | –6 | |
Reformed Political Party | 196,780 | 2.09 | 3 | +1 | |
Party for the Animals | 182,162 | 1.93 | 2 | 0 | |
50PLUS | 177,631 | 1.88 | 2 | New | |
Pirate Party | 30,600 | 0.32 | 0 | 0 | |
Party for Human and Spirit | 18,310 | 0.19 | 0 | 0 | |
Sovereign Independent Pioneers Netherlands | 12,982 | 0.14 | 0 | New | |
Party of the Future | 8,194 | 0.09 | 0 | New | |
Democratic Political Turning Point | 7,363 | 0.08 | 0 | New | |
Libertarian Party | 4,163 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |
Netherlands Local | 2,842 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
Liberal Democratic Party | 2,126 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
Anti-Europe Party | 2,013 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
Political Party NXD | 62 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
Total | 9,424,235 | 100.00 | 150 | 0 | |
Valid votes | 9,424,235 | 99.60 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 37,988 | 0.40 | |||
Total votes | 9,462,223 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 12,689,810 | 74.57 | |||
Source: Kiesraad |
Province | VVD | PvdA | PVV | SP | CDA | D66 | CU | GL | SGP | PvdD | 50+ | Others |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drenthe | 23.7 | 32.8 | 8.3 | 9.1 | 9.8 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.8 |
Flevoland | 28.7 | 23.3 | 12.4 | 8.3 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 1.1 |
Friesland | 19.9 | 33.1 | 7.3 | 9.5 | 13.8 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
Gelderland | 25.7 | 24.3 | 8.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 7.6 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.8 |
Groningen | 17.1 | 35.3 | 7.1 | 11.7 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
Limburg | 22.7 | 21.8 | 17.7 | 14.4 | 9.7 | 6.3 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.0 |
North Brabant | 28.8 | 21.5 | 11.0 | 13.8 | 9.1 | 7.8 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 |
North Holland | 29.3 | 27.0 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 5.6 | 10.3 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 |
Overijssel | 23.1 | 24.7 | 8.1 | 9.3 | 13.7 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
South Holland | 28.3 | 23.5 | 11.6 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 8.2 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.8 |
Utrecht | 29.6 | 22.5 | 7.9 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 10.9 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.9 |
Zeeland | 24.2 | 22.7 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 9.6 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.8 |
Caribbean Netherlands | 18.2 | 24.0 | 2.8 | 7.5 | 16.3 | 16.7 | 4.4 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.7 |
In earlier times it was the sole task of the King (or Queen) to appoint a person to prepare the formation of a new cabinet (in Dutch, informateur). The House of Representatives however changed the election law in the spring of 2012, so that the party with a plurality of votes now is responsible first to appoint a "verkenner" (scout), who after interviewing all party leaders submits a report to the House of Representatives, with a recommendation of who should be appointed as "informateur" and on what formation his first negotiation attempt should be.
On 13 September the VVD appointed Henk Kamp, the VVD's Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, as "scout". [36] He held formal individual interviews with all party leaders the following day, where they were asked about their support and priorities for the formation of a new government.
Overview of some possible majority coalitions: [37]
(1) Some of the possible formations of a majority government (i.e. PvdA and VVD), will hold a majority in the lower house but still lack a majority in the Senate, which must also pass all bills. [38] As the Senate in most cases has a tradition to respect the political will by the lower house, and with the possibility for the government parties in the remaining cases to negotiate a majority with other parties, the formation of a new stable government will not require the government parties to necessarily represent a majority in the Senate.
(2) The "Kunduz alliance" (also the "central alliance" or "spring alliance") made up of the VVD, CDA, D66, GL and the CU, agreed on 27 April 2012 to reduce the national deficit in 2013 to below 3 per cent of GDP. [6] As a coalition these five parties together only won 75 seats in the 2012 election, two seats less than they held before the election and one seat short of a majority. If this alliance had formed a new majority government, they would have needed the support of a sixth party (i.e. SGP).
Party leaders' stated opinions on 14 September, about government formation: [39]
Henk Kamp confirmed the above press statements in his "scout report" on 18 September, and recommended the House of Representatives to appoint him and Wouter Bos (PvdA) as the two leading negotiators ("informateurs") in an attempt to form a new government comprising the VVD and the PvdA. He emphasized that it was entirely up to those two parties to decide if they wanted to invite additional parties to join such a government, as the two parties together had a majority in the House of Representatives, but did not need a majority in the Senate to form a stable government. [43] [44]
During a debate in the House of Representatives on 20 September, both the VVD and the PvdA announced they now preferred to establish a two-party government, rather than a wider coalition of more parties. They admitted this was a new stance from their initial statements from 14 September. This change of opinion was criticized in particular by D66 and CDA, but along with the appointment of Henk Kamp (VVD) and Wouter Bos (PvdA) as "informateurs", the proposal that the two parties now should negotiate the formation of a two-party government was passed by a majority in the House of Representatives. [45]
Negotiations between the two parties started officially on 21 September. No official announcements were made during negotiations, but it was leaked from sources within the VVD on 24 September that if negotiations continued to go well, they expected it was possible to present the new two-party government within six to eight weeks. In regards of the budget for 2013, it was decided by the VVD and the PvdA to delay debating it in the House, until the point of time a new government had been formed, as it was considered to be one of the important negotiation points for the new government first to settle a deal on. [46] On 1 October 2012, a partial agreement was sealed between VVD and PvdA for the 2013 budget, adjusting the previous 5-party spring agreement at several key points, but accepting that the overall budget deficit should remain being cut to only 2.7% of the GDP. The parties accepted for a debate and vote on the new agreement straight away, as the time was an issue, and there was no reason to wait for the lengthy negotiations first to end between VVD and PvdA on the overall government formation. [47] Both VVD and PvdA stated they were happy now to have closed the partial budget agreement, but also admitted that government formation negotiations would probably last for several additional weeks, before a VVD-PvdA government potentially could be formed. [48]
After two more weeks of negotiations the following three deals were also agreed: 1.) A new loan scheme for students is to be introduced on 1 January 2014. 2.) Officials are no longer allowed to refuse to marry same-sex couples 3.) Municipalities will get the freedom to decide whether stores open on Sundays. [4]
The negotiations for the government formation ended with a final agreement and a list of newly proposed ministers on 29 October, which was subsequently endorsed by VVD on 2 November and PvdA on 3 November. The new government comprising Mark Rutte as prime minister along with 7 VVD ministers and 6 PvdA ministers, were sworn in by Queen Beatrix on 5 November 2012. [4] It was only the third cabinet since 1918 (the first two being the cabinets helmed by Wim Kok from 1994 to 2002) without a minister from a Christian Democratic party, following the decline of the former major party CDA.
The Labour Party is a social democratic political party in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is a parliamentary representative democracy. A constitutional monarchy, the country is organised as a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands can be described as a consociational state. Dutch politics and governance are characterised by a common striving for broad consensus on important issues, within both of the political community and society as a whole.
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in the Netherlands.
Democrats 66 is a social liberal and progressive political party in the Netherlands, which positions itself in the centre of the political spectrum. It is a member of the Liberal International (LI) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).
General elections were held in the Netherlands on 22 November 2006, following the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet. The election proved relatively successful for the governing Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) which remained the largest party with 41 seats, a loss of only three seats. The largest increase in seats was for the Socialist Party (SP), which went from nine to 25 seats. The main opposition party, the social democratic Labour Party (PvdA) lost nine of its 42 seats, while the right-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the progressive liberal Democrats 66 lost a considerable portion of their seats, six of 28 and three of six, respectively. New parties, such as the right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV) of former VVD MP Geert Wilders and the animal rights party Party for the Animals (PvdD) were also successful, with the PVV winning nine seats and the PvdD winning two, thereby becoming the first animal rights group to enter a European parliament.
Following the 2006 Dutch general election, held on November 22, a process of cabinet formation started, involving negotiations about which coalition partners to form a common programme of policy and to divide the posts in cabinet. On February 22, 2007 it resulted in the formation of the Fourth Balkenende cabinet.
General elections were held in the Netherlands on Wednesday 9 June 2010. This was triggered by the fall of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's fourth cabinet on 20 February with Queen Beatrix accepting the resignation of the Labour Party (PvdA) ministers on 23 February. The conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), led by Mark Rutte, won the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives while the social-democratic PvdA, led by Job Cohen, came a narrow second. The election was also noted for the rise of the Party for Freedom (PVV), which came third, led by controversial politician Geert Wilders. On the other hand, Balkenende's Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) saw a poor result, losing half its seats and dropping from first to fourth place. The Socialist Party (SP) also lost seats. Notably, the 31 seats won by the VVD was its most since 1998, and the one-seat margin between the VVD and PvdA is the closest on record.
After the general election of 9 June 2010, a cabinet formation took place in Netherlands. This led to the swearing in of the First Rutte cabinet after 127 days. The cabinet consisted of the conservative liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), with confidence and supply from the radical right Party for Freedom (PVV).
The first Rutte cabinet, also called the Rutte–Verhagen cabinet was the executive branch of the government of the Netherlands from 14 October 2010 until 5 November 2012. The cabinet was formed by the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian-democratic Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) after the election of 2010. The cabinet was a right-wing coalition and had a minority in the House of Representatives but had confidence and supply from the Party for Freedom (PVV) for a slim majority with Liberal Leader Mark Rutte serving as Prime Minister. Christian Democratic Leader Maxime Verhagen served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation.
General elections were held in the Netherlands on Wednesday 15 March 2017 to elect all 150 members of the House of Representatives.
Provincial elections were held in the Netherlands on Wednesday 18 March 2015. Eligible voters elected the members of the States-Provincial in the twelve provinces. These elections also indirectly determined the members of the Senate, since the 566 members of the twelve States-Provincial will elect the Senate's 75 members in the Senate election on 26 May 2015. These provincial election were held on the same day as the 2015 Dutch water boards elections.
General elections were held in the Netherlands from 15 to 17 March 2021 to elect all 150 members of the House of Representatives. Following the elections and lengthy coalition formation talks, the sitting government remained in power.
The third Rutte cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 26 October 2017 until 10 January 2022. It was formed by a coalition government of the political parties People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Democrats 66 (D66) and Christian Union (CU) after the general election of 2017.
An election of the Members of the European Parliament from the Netherlands was held on 23 May 2019. It was the ninth time such an election had been held in the Netherlands. The number of Dutch seats had been set to increase from 26 to 29 following Brexit, but due to the extension of the Article 50 process in the United Kingdom, the number of seats to be elected remained at 26.
The 2024 European Parliament election in the Netherlands was held on 6 June 2024 as part of the 2024 European Parliament election. It was the tenth time the elections have been held for the European elections in the Netherlands, and the first to take place after Brexit.
Early general elections were held in the Netherlands on 22 November 2023 to elect the members of the House of Representatives. The elections had been expected to be held in 2025 but a snap election was called after the fourth Rutte cabinet collapsed on 7 July 2023 due to immigration policy disagreements between the coalition parties. The incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that he would not lead his party into the election and that he would retire from politics.
Following the Dutch general election on 17 March 2021, a cabinet formation led to the establishment of the fourth Rutte cabinet in 2022. The coalition included the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), Democrats 66 (D66), Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and Christian Union (CU), the same parties from the preceding third Rutte cabinet. This formation process, lasting 299 days, was the longest formation in Dutch history.
In the run-up to the 2023 Dutch general election, various organisations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intentions in the Netherlands. Results of such polls are displayed in this list.
A process of cabinet formation took place following the Dutch general election of 22 November 2023, between the Party for Freedom (PVV), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), New Social Contract (NSC) and the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB), resulting in the formation of the Schoof cabinet on 2 July 2024. Despite intentions to form an extra-parliamentary cabinet, the cabinet is generally considered a parliamentary cabinet.
A process of cabinet formation took place in the Netherlands following the general election of September 2012. After 54 days this led to the Second Rutte cabinet, consisting of People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and Labour Party (PvdA). This made it one of the fastest cabinet formations. The formation was the first in which the monarch of the Netherlands did not play an active role.