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Diary Prospects for the 2007 Dutch General elections ◊ by koenzel gives an excellent analysis of Dutch politics, and is highly recommended!
I abhor the bashing of PM Jan Peter Balkenende and the everlasting effort to poke fun of his looks, while politicians on the left are unable to offer alternatives during the debate and discussions in Dutch parliament after the presentation of yearly policies on “Derde Dinsdag” – dutch – in September.
The failures of Wim Kok II (see below) cannot escape judgement to the turn of events leading to the rise of Pim Fortuyn, his success in the Rotterdam municipal elections of March 2002, and his assassination on May 6 just before the National Elections. All parties in Wim Kok II were punished severely by Dutch voters, see data.
The Dutch gave the old governing party CDA Christian Democrats the chance to come forward with an election win in 2002 and a repeat in 2004, when the party of Pim Fortuyn (LPF) imploded as a result of the absence of its charismatic leader Pim Fortuyn. The turmoil within Dutch society and politics gave all parties a chance to renew their party platforms. The Dutch right-wing Liberal Party VVD were willing to particpate in the administration after the coalition with PvdA and its leader Bos failed due to lack of trust between political leadership and its constituents. The murder of columnist and film maker Theo van Gogh shook Dutch society on its very foundation.
Just as starter, more to follow »»
The financial and economic failures exacerbated by former PM Wim Kok in Paars II and Financial Minister Zalm, led to a budget deficit above the European norm of 3%. As the U.S. and Europe went into a short recession in 2002, the start of Balkenende I was not in a position to be envied. The policy of cutting government deficit is never appreciated, as in a period of recession administration should be in a financial position to strenghten consumer buying, not restraining it. The jobless rate of 5.5% in The Netherlands is far below the EU average of nearly 10%.
A major failure of PvdA policy and Wim Kok Paars cabinets I & II :: immigration policy, security and safety in cities, moral aspects in society and taking responsibily for government failures, Wim Brongersma issue and Srebrenica massacre.
Some feats of the cabinet of Balkenende I and II are listed below:
- World Bank appointment PvdA leader Ad Melkert
- Close alliance with EU Commission and Barroso
- EU commissioner Neelie Smit Kroes for post of
- Pull-out of Iraq in March 2005 and focus on NATO in Afghanistan
- NATO appointment Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (close personal friend of Jan Peter and also an acquaintance of our family – his wife Jeannine with daughters Stephanie and Caroline)
- Recent visit of Russian President Putin
UN appointments ::
- Jan Pronk as special delegate for Kofi Annan to Darfur and Sudan
- Major Gen. Patrick Cammaert as military UN commander in Congo after overseeing the Ethiopia and Erithrea border conflict
- Ruud Lubbers to position of director UNHCR until early 2005
- The Netherlands maintained its 0.7% GDP standard for annual Development and Aid third world countries. Minister van Ardenne does a great job in support of UN in Darfur, and the recent disasters SE Asia tsunami and Pakistan earthquake.
«« click on pic for info Darfur
The failure of German chancellor Gerhard Schröder to cut government spending and adjust social policies to have a more flexible work force to compete within EU market developments led to his election defeat. The first woman chancellor Angela Merkel from the Christian Democrats CDU/CSU as a result, a strong ally within the EU for Jan Peter Balkenende.
The left wing parties in the Netherlands were more involved in fighting one another than to cooperate on the most simple issues of Dutch politics. The consistent obstruction of cabinet ministers, almost daily forwarding questions in parliament of trivial matters, instead of getting involved in the major policies the Dutch are confronted with. I will wait and see whether some form of Left Party cooperation will succeed to impact the election in 2007. As I have written before, the Dutch elections show a very large swing vote, 30% of electorate. The voter makes his/her decision in the voting booth, making any poll ahead of time worthless. Memory of voter is even shorter than the farsight of politicians.
Major defeat for PM Balkenende
The Populist Deficiency of European Social Democracy
René Cuperus – Wiardi Beckman Foundation (PvdA Research Institute)
A great former PvdA politician and first head of European Central Bank: Wim Duisenberg
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
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