Dutch General Elections Diary (in progress) | 139 comments (139 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

So we're talking about an old-line, real Socialist party.

I should think they'd have no trouble in a coalition with the Christian group if they are ideologically what I imagine them to be.

30 seats.

Wow.

Any on the ground thoughts on how this could have happened? Real socialists - not exactly a Dutch tradition, huh?

Recalls '02 in France.

The Hun is always either at your throat or at your feet. Winston Churchill

by r------ on Wed Nov 22nd, 2006 at 04:19:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Exactly n/t (4.00 / 4)

I met one of their senators during the ESF meeting in Athens. I was impressed: they're realist without being "sold-out", rather skeptical of the EU, but in a reasonable way, and really are a party of what is traditionally considered the Left. Plus they seem to have a grasp of issues that usually transcends that of the rest of the European Left They're associated with but not members of the European Left party. Their web magazine Spectrezine is excellent and so is its blog.

BTW what are the actual vote percentages?

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake

by talos (mihalis at gmail dot com) on Thu Nov 23rd, 2006 at 07:49:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Exactly n/t (4.00 / 3)

From the SP site: Their history, their positions and their president's book.

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake

by talos (mihalis at gmail dot com) on Thu Nov 23rd, 2006 at 09:51:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Thank you talos (4.00 / 2)

I agree, they are realist, and they have fledged as a party with very good ideas - but I don't agree with their somewhat hostile approach to the EU. Although given the relentless marketista noise coming out of Brussels, who'd blame them.

The actual vote percentages? What do you mean? Do you mean this?

by Nomad (Bjinse) on Thu Nov 23rd, 2006 at 10:05:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thank you talos (4.00 / 2)

That link sends me to a copyright notice of sorts when I click on it - it only works when I copy and paste it on the address box... But yes, exactly that. I was weary of their "anti-EUness" as well, but as you say its not that they're lacking in arguments lately...

So 16.6 percent for the "hard" left at least, 21.2 if you count the Green Left... Is this unprecedented?

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake

by talos (mihalis at gmail dot com) on Thu Nov 23rd, 2006 at 10:25:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thank you talos (4.00 / 2)

Mmph. NOS copyrights interfere with direct linkage. But at least you saw it.

Unprecedented? I think it is. Look at the historic overview chart (wikipedia), here. SP and GroenLinks never bumped above 15%, let alone 20%.

This is why I wrote that the polarisation is far from gone...

by Nomad (Bjinse) on Thu Nov 23rd, 2006 at 12:04:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Dutch General Elections Diary (in progress) | 139 comments (139 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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