A number of prominent Christian Democratic party ministers have spoken out in favour of party leader and prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, after reports of growing pressure on his position because of the party’s poor local election showing.

‘He has more integrity than most politicians I know,’ health minister Ab Klink told news agency ANP after Friday’s cabinet meeting. ‘He is the ideal campaign leader.’
‘He has my full support,’ said transport minister Camiel Eurlings, tipped by many as Balkenende’s heir.
Doubts
On Thursday it emerged a number of senior Christian Democrat officials are openly doubting whether Balkenende should lead the party into the June election.
The CDA were one of the big losers in Wednesday’s local elections, shedding 182 seats. And one opinion poll showed the party is set to lose 12 of its 41seats in parliament.
The party’s inner council is due to meet on Monday and Balkenende’s position will be on the agenda, one official told RTL news.
Election
RTL news says a number of senior party officials are now openly doubting whether Balkenende should lead the party into the June 9 general election.
‘Balkenende must feel it is all over,’ one source said.
Balkenende has led four cabinets over the past eight years and was named campaign leader immediately after the current cabinet collapsed.
No comment
Balkenende refused to comment on the reports after the Friday meeting. ‘I am here as the prime minister, not as leader of the CDA,’ he was reported as saying.
Justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin, finance minister Jan Kees de Jager and farm minister Gerda Verburg also gave their backing to the prime minister, Nos said.
Farmers
But his popularity is at a low ebb. Farmers, traditionally big supporters of the CDA have turned their back on him, with only 38% in a recent poll saying they wanted to see him back as prime minister.
Several other polls also show CDA voters are turning away from their leader. A Maurice de Hond poll on Thursday showed 25% of CDA voters want a new top dog.
As well as Eurlings, junior defence minister Jacques de Vries and finance minister Jan Kees de Jager have been tipped as possible successors.