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Updated, vrijdag 24 december 2004
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Today is The Day...
...AP Online
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Dutch
Cabinet supports military action politically, but it will not
participate
Amsterdam,
March 18, 2003
In an emergency session in reaction to the UN crisis over Iraq on Monday march 17th, the Dutch
cabinet decided to support politically military action by the
United States and Britain, but the Dutch government will not
participate in an assault on Iraq.
The Dutch will fulfil their duties in defending Turkey with patriot
missiles and the government will help rebuilding Iraq under UN
flag. Prime
Minister Balkenende said in a press conference that their is a
common goal in the security council, the disarmament of Iraq, as was
laid down in resolution 1441. The resolution speaks of serious
consequences if Iraq does not answer the demands of the Security
Council. The cabinet concludes that Iraq is in "material
breach" of this resolution and that thus "serious
consequences" will now follow.
According to the PM, the fact that the Iraqi authorities have
breached in twelve years 17 resolutions worsens the Iraqi position. Because
the international support for military action at this moment is not
very big, the cabinet decided only to support it politically, but
not to send any troops to the gulf region. The
PM is in a political difficult position. He is PM of a de-misionary
centre-right cabinet that is waiting for results in coalition talks
with the Labour party. And the Laqbour Party does not want to
support any action without a second Security Council resolution. |
Prime Minister
statement (Dutch, pdf) | |
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Dutch
Parties agree
on government policies
Amsterdam, may 20
2003
After a lengthy
period of coalition talks and several breakdowns, three parties
agreed on cutting 15 billion in government spending in the next
four years.
The three parties that will form a government are CDA (Chrisian
Democrats), VVD (Conservative Liberals) and D66 (Democrats, centre
liberals).
Prime minister will likely be Jan Peter Balkenende.
| Coalition
agreement (dutch) | |
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Peace
Demo in Amsterdam
labour
leader Wouter Bos absent
 Amsterdam,
15 feb.2003
According to a police
spokesman 35.000 to 40.000 people attended the peace demo against a
war in Iraq.
The left wing elite
was present, except for the Labour (PvdA) leader Wouter Bos.
The Labour Party is not one of the participants. The party chairman
Koole said yesterday that the demo is principally against any war.
"There are moments when war is inevitable".
He warned the Christian Democrats that the coalition talks would be
over if Prime- minister Balkenende supports a war without an
explicit UN Security Council mandate.
The Labour Party did
not forbid its members of parliament to go, but the party as
such does not approve of the demo.
The opposition takes advantage of the absence of Bos. In the front
line of the demo, SP leader Jan Marijnissen asks on the poster;
"Have you seen this man?"
The Public
(PhotosİAP)
Left wing leadership in the
frontline (PhotosİAP)
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Dutch Labour Party backs
down on Patriots for Turkey
Amsterdam, 11
february 2003
On Tuesday 11/2/03 the Labour leader Wouter Bos told journalist,
after talks with party members in parliament, that he backs down on the
sending of patriot anti- missile rockets to Turkey.
Last Friday he was in favour of sending the armour if an ally asked
for it under art. 4. He would not have supported the patriot sending
on Friday if the US asked for it. He did not want to support the
American policies.
Today he changed his mind. Making the
coalition talks with prime minister Balkenende complicated.
To avoid "war logic" the Labour Party does not want to talk
about war preparations until the UN Security Council has decided on
military action.
He fully supports the French/German/Belgian position, splitting the
alliance. At the same time calling to postpone the decision on Turkey to
allow unity in the Nato alliance.
The Christian Democrats have their
misgivings of this move and ask with which Wouter Bos they are dealing in
the coalition talks.
It sounds like "Old" Labour. The Dutch Labour Party is miles
from the "New" Labour of Tony Blair.
| PvdA
tegen uitlenen patriots | |
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High
Flag for Queen Beatrix
65th birthday
Westerkerk Toren (Jordaan)
in blazing winter light
Amsterdam, 31
januari 2003
Queen Beatrix
celebrates a strenuous 65th birthday today, with internal politics
concentrated on coalition talks for a new Chrisian democratic/Labour
government. The
two parties are silent on the content of their talks. A decisive
position on the Iraq crisis is most likely not agreed by both
parties.
Prime minister Balkenende was offered to sign the Asnar/ Blair
declaration, but he declined.
In a Times
opinion article eight EU government leaders called for a united
European stand side by side with long term ally: the United
States.
They call on the UN security council to take its responsibility in
facing to disarm a dangerous leader as Saddam Hussein of weapons of
mass destruction. The
declaration of "eight" is a public call towards
Germany and France to draw one European line toward the US Iraq
policy. The
German and French governments are troubled by the consequences for
the instability in the middle East in case of military action is
taken by the western alliance with an Arab country. Will an attack
provoke more terrorism? Or must we endure more bloodshed for a
higher aiml? And what might that be? If the answer is a liberal
Islam, how do we think we can help them with war. How will the
allied responsibility for the post Saddam period look like? A modern
Colonialism? Is there another way? Any
reflection on that concern is lacking in the declaration of the
"eight".
Maybe a second declaration that sheds more light on the planned
scenario for a post- war Iraq and Middle Eastern (read Palestinian
solution) is highly desirable for the public to know. In
Holland there is not a single politician of any importance that was
kind enough to say anything of importance to note. Will
the Queen at here birthday party not give any sign that indicates
here view with a classical war time Dutch cabinet reaction of not
knowing which side to choose. Therefore
The Amsterdam Post wishes here wisdom in this explosive time. DD Article
to read
| For
Arabs, the problem is America | |
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Dutch Election 2003
Christian Democrats and Labour win Dutch election
Christian Democrats win contest with Labour and stays the biggest
Amsterdam- 22 January 2003
In an unprecedented tight election race, the Christian Democratic Party of ruling Prime- minister Jan Peter Balkenende is winning voters confidence.
The first exit polls sugest the following results:
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Parliament
now
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Exit poll
22-01
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Real result
9 milion count
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CDA
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43
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43
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44
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LPF
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26
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8
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8
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VVD
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24
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25
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28
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PvdA
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23
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42
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42
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GroenLinks
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10
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9
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8
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SP
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9
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11
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9
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D66
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7
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6
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6
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ChristenUnie
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4
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4
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3
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SGP
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2
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2
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2
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Leefbaar Nederland
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2
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0
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0
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Late voters at voting station in the Jordaan district Amsterdam
Election campaign becomes presidential race
Labour candidate Cohen holds his tongue
Amsterdam- 20 January 2003
After the appointment of Cohen as the desired prime minister for Labour if the party wins the election next wednesday the election campaign has become a presidential race.
The Dutch voters can make a clear choice between a center - right government with present prime minister Balkenende (Christian democrats) and a center- left government with Cohen as prime minister and Labour leader Wouter Bos reforming his party within parliament.
The polls indicate a Labour victory, but a quarter of the electorate is still undecided. So the vote can still swing to either side.
The reception of the public of the unexpected Labour move will make all the difference. Will they welcome Cohen as a stable and reliable candidate, or will they see this move as an example of the old fashioned imperious politics.
Isn't it strange that Cohen will hold his tongue in the campaign, refusing a debate with the other two candidates, thereby withholding the public his political views?
The last two days of the campaign Wouter Bos will be asked constantly about the qualities and political vision of Cohen. His vision as party leader will evaporate, because he made his person and views irrellevant.
And what will happen after the elections? If Cohen becomes prime minister of a center left government, with Balkenende and Bos as parliamentary leaders of there party. Will it be a stable government with Labour restructuring itself?
| Dutch politics breaks taboo on talking about immigration IHT |
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Dutch Election 2003
Wouter Bos: No Guts, No Glory
Labour Leader Bos appoints Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen as candidate for Prime minister in Dutch election
Amsterdam- 19 January 2003
Labour Party (PvdA) leader Wouter Bos appointed the Mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen to be his candidate to become prime minister if Labour wins the election next wednesday.
A previous promise of Bos, to reform the party as party chairman in parliament, in his race to become party leader brought him into difficulty now that Labour has the chance to become the biggest in parliament.
It is a custom that the biggist party has predominance in forming a coalition and delivering the prime minister.
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Labour is catching up Christian Democratic Party
Labour closing in on Christian Democrats in latest poll
Amsterdam- 15 January 2003
The latest opinion polls show that the Labour Party (PvdA) with leader Wouter Bos is closing in on the Christian Democratic party (CDA) of Prime minister Balkenende. With another week of campaigning ahead, the finish will be close.
Wouter Bos now faces the problem to name a Labour Party candidate for prime minister. He himself holds until today that he will stay in parliament as political leader to reform the party structure. The popular mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen, and the second on the Labour list Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven are two of the frequently named candidates.
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Parliament
now
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Poll
08-01
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Poll
15-01
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CDA
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43
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46
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42
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LPF
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26
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5
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6
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VVD
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24
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27
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28
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PvdA
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23
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35
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40
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GroenLinks
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10
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8
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6
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SP
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9
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18
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16
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D66
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7
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5
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6
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ChristenUnie
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4
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3
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3
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SGP
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2
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2
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2
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Leefbaar Nederland
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2
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1
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1
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Nederland Kiest
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Labour supports war if necessary
Opposition leader Wouter Bos of the Dutch Labour Party PvdA will side with the Government on the war against Iraq question.
In a televised radio debate between six party leaders he said he would choose the side of present prime minister Balkenende in supporting the US after a UN Security Council mandate.
On January 22 the Dutch will vote for a new parliament after the breakdown of the instable rightwing Cabinet in October last year.
The voters are on the move again. The Labour Party was the big loser in 2002 with their leader Ad Melkert. In the present race, the party leader Wouter Bos (photo) won in an open party vote, the leadership in his party. He is now moving up in the polls rapidly, challenging the Christian Democratic leader and present prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende.
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Photo gallery
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Christian Democrats win
Dutch national elections
List Fortuyn enters parliament in second place
Labour and Liberals big losers
Amsterdam, may 16 2002
The Christian- Democratic party wins the most bizarre Dutch elections since time memorial. An election that was marked by a tragic murder on the right wing politician Pim Fortuyn.
The Dutch voted the Christian- Democrats of Jan- Peter Balkenende into government and defied the governing coalition of Prime Minister Wim Kok consisting of Labour, Liberals (VVD) and social Liberals (D66).
The Dutch chose a swing to the right.
The main theme's in the most tough election in years were the immigration policy and the neglect in public governance. The reigning purple coalition were unable to convince the Dutch electorate of its successes.
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The Christian- Democrats (CDA) won 43 seats in the 150 seat assembly. A gain of 14 seats.
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The List Fortuyn have 26 seats and come into parliament from 0 to the number to party.
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The Liberals (VVD) have now 23 seats, a loss of 15 seats. The party leader Hans Dijkstal is expected to step down tomorrow.
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The Labour party (PvdA) has now also 23 seats, a loss of 22 seats. The party leader Ad Melkert announced his resignation.
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The Green left party have 10 seats, a loss of 1.
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The Socialist Party was successful. They won 4 seats and have a stronghold of 9 parliamentary seats.
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The Social Liberals (D66) lose 6 seats, 8 remain in parliament.
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The Christian Union lose 1 and have now 4 representatives.
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Liveable Netherlands enters parliament with 2 seats.
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The Christian Protestant party (SGP) loses 1 and remain with 2 in parliament.
In the coming weeks tough coalition talks will take place.
The most likely coalition will be of the CDA, VVD and List Fortuyn. The Labour party announced that they will reorganise in the opposition.
The coalition talks will have to be based on respect and will have to heal the wounds that are inflicted on the Dutch democracy, announced the CDA party leader Jan-Peter Balkenende.
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Dutch Christian Democrats Win
- The New York Times |
Dutch await dramatic poll outcome
- CNN |
Swing to the right in Netherlands poll
- BBC News |
Opposition Parties Appear to Win Big in Dutch Elections
- Washington Post |
Election results
- NOS |
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Dutch Republican Society
presents Republican Manifesto
Amsterdam, 29 January 2002
With the upcoming Royal wedding on Saturday in mind, the New Republican Society presented a
Republican Manifesto.
It calls for a Dutch Republic and for removing the Monarchy by legal means. The chance of realising this democratic dream is helas very slim. The Royal family seems to be more popular than ever. Or so it seems.
Nieuw Republikeins Genootschap presenteert Republikeins Manifest
Het Nieuw Republikeins Genootschap brengt naar aanleiding van het Koninklijk huwelijk van aanstaande zaterdag een Manifest uit. In het manifest wordt opgeroepen in Nederland de Republikeinse staatsvorm te herstellen langs democratische en legale weg.
Het Republikeins Manifest
Geschiedkundige toelichting
bij het Republikeins Manifest
Het Republikeins Genootschap
Frits Abrahams in het Handelsblad - Republikeinen
Frits Abrahams in het Handelsblad
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