Traditionally, the Christian Democrats CDA will stay in the center and it's easier to gain votes on the left wing of the party, former ARP and some KVP, who would otherwise transgress to Labor of Wouter Bos (PvdA).
The difference for next election could be the first voters, the young people who don't vote according to tradition and have an idealistic view of society. Much will depend on the state of the national economy, unemployment rate and ability for consumer spending.
Just this evening I understand Minister Zalm has a small extra of €3bn in receivables. Once the economy shows strength and growth above 2.5 %, daily life will be easier for all consumers. Dutch economy is highly dependent on export, especially with Germany, and therefore the Christain Democratic alliance with Chancellor Angela Merkel will benefit both countries.
For a similar economic recovery see the years of Ruud Lubbers in the eighties. Lubbers was very young and still inexperienced as a politician, but today for the CDA voters he is the best post-war Dutch Prime Minister.
"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
It's not true, I think. First of all, if you entitle VVD as right-wing, either socially or economically, you haven't seen Dutch right-wing yet. How else could we describe the curiosity Geert Wilders? Or several prominent members of LPF? Ultra-right wing? I think that's not even true. There are people around with even more extreme, fascist aspects, but they don't form a party today. Mega-ultra right wing??
It's not easy today to pigeon-hole parties in the Netherlands. Even Labour and Green have moved at a numer of issues to the "right" as the historic social model was considered to have too many flaws.
Plus, Wilders ís pretty much as right as you can find them. Lower taxes, more roads, no turkey, tougher penalties, higher road limits- it is to the right of 'the' VVD, that's why he quit. But the VVD is not a right-right party, but centre-right nevertheless.
And that's what I more or less implied: VVD isn't right-wing, Wilders is, and largely the LPF is too.
I never said reform is rightish, there's actually a reason why conservative (anti-reform) parties are generally right-oriented. But that's not the point. I'm arguing that the solutions Labour and Green propose for certain problems have been cherry-picked from political programs generally proclaimed by CDA and VVD.
I think only Geert Wilders would find himself at home in the Republican party, the rest of the parties would call themselve Democrats in the US.
But you're right, I forgot the SGP.
(Hallo hello Americans lurking out there: can you resolve this issue for us? :-) ) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
The Christian-Democrats show a tendency to turn into a conservative party, but they're not quite there. They also have a base which is left-moderate (the core of it, at least) and which is not happy with the way things are going. So i'd describe the CDA as moderate/centre-right. But not really a right-wing party. Yet.
