Netherlands

Dutch Election Watch:Christian Democrats and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende Claim Victory

dutchnovember22aweb

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende celebrates the parliamentary elections results with his Democratic Party CDA at the Lucent Dance Theater in The Hague , Netherlands, Wednesday Nov 22, 2006. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende’s center-right Christian Democrats had a clear lead Wednesday over the leftist Labor Party, early returns suggested _ but not enough for a majority in the next parliament.

AFP: Christian Democrats claim victory in Dutch elections

Christian Democrat Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende claimed victory in the Netherlands elections, saying that his party has again become the biggest group in parliament.

“We are the biggest party again … the effort of four years of struggle has been rewarded and that makes me proud,” Balkenende, whose speech was often interrupted by cheers of “four more years”, told his supporters.

Partial results on Wednesday showed the Christian Democrats holding 41 seats in the 150 seat parliament based on 83 percent of votes counted. This means Balkenende will probably be asked to head another a coalition government.

Their main rival, the Labour Party of leader Wouter Bos, had 33 seats.

But, what about the RIGHT parties?

The Christian Democrats current coalition partner, the right-wing liberal VVD known for its hardline Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk, garnered only 22 places, a loss of six.

While the Netherlands has made headlines around the world for its tough stance on immigration and integration, the election campaign was mainly fought over social welfare and economic issues.

Even the government’s proposed “burqa ban” and allegations of torture by Dutch troops in
Iraq that made headlines last week appeared to have had little impact.

The perceived lack of integration by Muslims who account for 5.8 percent of the population has been much debated here since the 2002 rise of populist leader Pim Fortuyn — murdered by an animal rights activist who said he wanted to protect weaker members of society such as immigrants and Muslims — and the killing of filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Muslim radical in 2004.

However, Dutch voters seem to have tired of the issue and the major parties appear to have reached a consensus on hardline policies to curb immigration and promote integration, making it almost a non-issue in the campaign.

Of the right-wing populist parties, the Freedom Party of outspoken Islam critic Geert Wilders, a former VVD MP, came out of nowhere to win nine seats according to the partial results.

Looks like the Muslim ASSIMILATION parties won BIG this election.

Now, will they ban the Burqa?

Some jewelers in Canada certainly wish Canada would.

dutchnovember22bweb

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende casts his vote for the general election in Capelle aan de IJssel. Balkenende claimed victory in the Netherlands elections, saying that his party has again become the biggest group in parliament.


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