A number of regional Labour party (PvdA) branches are organising special congresses to discuss how the party can seize the initiative and boost its appeal, the AD reports on Wednesday.

‘The party does not seem to be aware of what is going on in society. It is quiet, sluggish and offers no serious answer to the cabinet’s plans,’ coordinator Michiel Emmelkamp told the paper.
The PvdA, which emerged as the second biggest party in parliament after last year’s election, is now languishing in the opinion polls and there has been considerable criticism of the performance of its leader, former Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen.
Renewal
Now, leaders of the Groningen, Eindhoven, Nijmegen, Maastricht, Enschede and Utrecht party branches have set up a ‘left-wing renewal’ campaign.
The movement is not focused on Cohen or Labour MPs, Emmelkamp said.
‘The Labour party is traditionally a modern, progressive movement for the left,’ he said. ‘But at a time when this movement should be moving, we don’t see much happening. It is far too quiet.’
A spokesman for the party’s headquarters said it was aware of the initiative but not that there is widespread unhappiness at the party’s performance.’