The Socialist Party (SP) was the big winner in Wednesday’s provincial elections, but the new coalition government has hung on to power in the upper house of parliament (senate). The SP gained seats across the country, almost tripling its support in some areas.

Two of the three government coalition parties — the Christian Democrats (CDA) and Labour (PvdA) — lost support. Labour did worse, losing 37 of its seats. It now controls 114 of the 564 seats in provincial government. The SP took 83 seats, an increase of 54.
The make-up of the 12 provincial councils will determine the new look 75-seat senate in three months time. Translated into senate seats, the coalition will keep a four-seat majority, thanks to a doubling of support for junior partner, the orthodox ChristenUnie.
‘It would be wrong if the cabinet viewed the results of the regional elections as a motion of support. Both the CDA and Labour lost,’ the Telegraaf noted in its editorial.
The VVD, which lost seats in the November general election, managed to maintain its 15 senate seats, attracting voters from the anti-immigration PVV which did not take part. The pro-animal rights PvdD will have one seat in the senate.
Turnout, at around 46% was very low. The Volkskrant said it was disappointing that provincial councillors had not been able to make use of the increasing public attention for planning, water management and environmental issues – the main tasks of the provincial governments – to attract voters.