Six foot student life: Dutch Elections

For the last couple of weeks, a strange phenomenon appeared in the Dutch streets: People are handing out flyers, massive billboards with posters on it have risen out of nowhere, and your FB-timeline is filled with empty promises. You’ve probably guessed it: the Dutch elections are coming up.

In the upcoming elections, the 150 members of the House of Representatives (MP) will be elected for a period of four years. Together with the senate, who get elected by the members of the provincial parliaments, and the government, they form the legislative body of The Netherlands.

Although MP’s are constitutionally elected as an individual, most candidates represent a political party. In this article, I will describe the parties who are most likely to get at least one seat, in order of the polls. Additionally, I have added the: 

VVD:

The Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (the People’s Party for freedom and democracy) is a conservative-liberal party, lead by Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The VVD has been the largest party in parliament for the last 10 years. It finds great importance in economic liberalism and the freedom of the individual. The VVD is a coalition party, and wants to pay universiteits based upon their educational quality; rather than the current system of paying per enrollment.

PVV: 

The Partij Voor de Vrijheid (Party for Freedom) is a national-liberal party, lead by opposition leader Geert Wilders who founded the party when he split from the VVD in 2004. It finds great importance in limiting migration and national identity. The PVV is an opposition party and wants to abolish the student loan system.

CDA:

The Christen-Democratisch Appel (Christian Democrat Appeal) is a Christian democratic party, lead by the Minister of Finance Wopke Hoekstra. The CDA finds great importance in what they call ‘rentmeesterschap’, an old Dutch word which means they want to take great care of nature and the Dutch culture to be able to pass it on better to the next generation. The CDA is a coalition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a four-year-grand, and finance the universities per ECTS.

D66:

Democraten ‘66 (Democrats ‘66) is a social-liberal party, lead by the Minister for Foreign Trade Sigrid Kaag. D66 finds great importance in investing in education and combatting climate change. D66 is a coalition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly 300 euro grand. 

GroenLinks:

GroenLinks (Green Left) is a green social democratic party, lead by MP Jesse Klaver. GroenLinks was created as result of a merger between the Communist Party, the Pacifist Party, the Progressive Radical Party and the Progressive Protestant Party. GL finds great importance in combatting climate change and redistribution of wealth. GL is an opposition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly 400 euro grant.

Socialistische Partij:

The Socialistische Partij (Socialist Party) is a far-left social-democratic party, lead by MP Lilian Marijnissen. The SP finds great importance in investing in healthcare and redistribution of wealth. The SP is an opposition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly grant and additional grant for students from a low income family.

Partij van de Arbeid:

The Partij van de Arbeid (Labour Party) is a social-democratic party, lead by MP Lilianne Ploumen. The PvdA finds great importance in investing in healthcare and improving workers social security. The PvdA is an opposition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly grant and an additional grant for students from a low income family. 

ChristenUnie:

The ChristenUnie (Christian Union) is a christian-democratic party, lead by MP Gert-Jan Segers. The CU finds great importance in shared Christian values and improving social welfare. The CU is a coalition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly 550 euro grant. 

Partij voor de Dieren:

The Partij voor de Dieren (Animal Party) is an animal-rights party, lead by MP Esther Ouwehand. Its main goals are animal rights and animal welfare. The PvdD is an opposition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly grant.

50PLUS:

50PLUS is the party that advocates for pensioners’ interests, lead by Liane de Haan. 50PLUS wants to lower the retirement age and increase pensioners’ benefits. 50PLUS is an opposition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly grant.

SGP:

The Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (Reformed Political Party) is a christian-conservative party, lead by MP Kees van der Staaij. The SGP finds great importance in its orthodox political ideals; it opposes same-sex marriage and abortion. The SGP is an opposition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly grant.

DENK:

DENK is a social-democratic party, lead by MP Farid Azarkan. DENK finds great importance in combatting racism and creating a tolerant and solidary society. DENK is an opposition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly grant.

Forum voor Democratie:

Forum voor Democratie (Forum for Democracy) is a national-conservative party, lead by MP Thierry Baudet. FvD finds great importance in leaving the EU, abolishing all corona measures (they consider it equal to a mild flu) and repealing all climate measures. FvD is an opposition party. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly grant.

JA21:

Juiste Antwoord ‘21 (Right Answer ‘21) is a conservative-liberal party, lead by council member Joost Eerdmans. JA21 was created after a split in Forum for Democracy, as a result of homophobic, racist and antisemetic remarks of FvD-leader Thierry Baudet. JA21 is not part of the current parliament. JA21 wants a stricter immigration policy and create a direct democracy with binding referendums. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly grant.

VOLT:

VOLT is a pan-European party with social-liberal views, lead by Laurens Dassen. VOLT finds great importance in European integration and cooperation, and combatting climate change. VOLT is not part of the current parliament. It wants to abolish the student loan system and replace it with a monthly grant.