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Columns July 2012
Wouter Bos: Arise, reasonable politicians The Christian Democrats and the PvdA Labour party seem to realise that, in order to solve the present economic problems, they will probably need each other quite a lot after the elections. ‘I like their insight’, writes Wouter Bos. ‘Particularly when the extent of the crisis is still being underestimated’.  
René van Leeuwen: All men are equal before the Flying Spaghetti Monster As long as animal welfare, the love between same-sex couples and the physical integrity of children are considered less important than the religious freedom of Christians, Jews or Muslims, the law should treat Pastafarians and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster with equal consideration, writes René van Leeuwen.
Annemarie van Gaal: Stop poldering. Get on with it! Have we gone too far in our wish for consensus? The eighties marked the start of the typically Dutch practice of poldering , or consensus seeking. It has seeped into our DNA and we have been compromising until the cows come home ever since, writes Annemarie van Gaal.
Barend van Lieshout: PVV healthcare plans mostly (beer) froth It says 'election manifesto' on the cover so you would be justified in expecting a cohesive plan to guide the Netherlands through the next four years. But the PVV’s healthcare plans do not begin to meet the challenges of the sector, writes Barend van Lieshout.
Election watch: what's in a manifesto? After Thursday night's marathon sitting, parliament is well and truly out. The next, and last, time the current crop of MPs get together will be on September 18 for the presentation of the outgoing government's 2013 spending plans - huge chunks of which nobody supports any longer.
Adriaan Schout: Why all parties are pro-Europe The media are creating an image of political parties rejecting Europe for fear of alienating the anti-European part of the electorate. In reality, political parties are outspokenly pro-European, writes Adriaan Schout.
Wouter Bos: Figures There are some election certainties, and one of them is the report from the government advisory body Studiegroep begrotingsruimte (The Study group budgetary space), writes Wouter Bos.
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