Poll of polls shows 15 parties could pick up a seat in the next parliament
Photo: DutchNews.nl
Two weeks before the general election, the latest poll of polls hints that as many as 15 parties could be represented in the new parliament.
While support for prime minister Mark Rutte’s VVD remains far above the rest – with 23% to 25% of the vote – a number of new parties may win one or two, including pan European party Volt.
To be included in the poll of polls, a party must have featured in the list of two of three polls used in its compilation. JA21, the new party formed by Forum dissidents Joost Eerdmans and Annabel Nanninga, could also pick up two seats, the poll shows.
A board for the 2021 elections. Photo: Remko de Waal
Netherlands has an ever-expanding range of political parties in parliament, due to the recent trend of dissidents breaking away after an intra-party row to form their own splinter group. There are also various flavours of Christianity to choose from.
Here’s an alphabetical list of the 13 parties that currently hold seats in parliament, in alphabetical order, and three hopefuls which, the polls suggest, are in with a chance in the March general election.
50PLUS
Seats in parliament: 3 Campaign slogan: No
Founded in 2009 as a pensioners’ rights party – despite being named for the over-50s – 50PLUS has been bedeviled by splits and rivalries, and former leader Henk Krol is now standing for parliament under his own name. The party wants the retirement age brought back to 65. Manifesto
Forum dissidents Nanninga and Eerdmans launch own party for 2021 general election
Nanninga supporting Eerdmans during the 2018 local election campaign. Photo: Koen van Weel ANP
Two prominent former members of far right party Forum voor Democratie, who resigned over claims of rampant anti-Semitism within the party leadership and youth wing, have set up their own party to fight the 2021 general elections.
Annabel Nanninga, elected senator, provincial councillor and Amsterdam city councillor on behalf of the FvD has joined forces with Joost Eerdmans, a Leefbaar Rotterdam councillor who was tipped to become a FvD MP. New party JA21 will compete in the March vote.