DutchNews.nl - Election: Labour leader Samsom clear winner in first tv debate

Labour leader Diederick Samsom emerged the clear winner from Sunday night’s television debate between the leaders of the four biggest parties.

Almost 52% of the 10,000 viewers who voted said Samsom was the strongest in the debate, with outgoing prime minister Mark Rutte, who leads the right-wing VVD, coming second with almost 34%.

Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration PVV took 9% and Socialist Party chief Emile Roemer just 5.7%.

The SP is the biggest party in three of the four main opinion polls, followed by the VVD. The vote takes place on September 12.

According to the Volkskrant, Samsom also emerged as the winner in an analysis of Twitter messages about the debate.

Roderik van Grieken, director of the Dutch debating institute, told news agency ANP Samsom presented himself much more as an alternative to Rutte than the other two.

Rutte was the target of most criticism but kept his end up, Van Grieken is quoted as saying.

NOS analyst Ron Fresen said the debate showed the election is about a lot more than a two-way fight between the VVD and SP. The Netherlands has a divided political landscape and 'don't write-off Labour,' Fresen said.

Readers' Comments

Samson and the PvdA are the best for the Netherlands in my opinion, so I am glad to see this news. Sadly I do not think the majority of Dutch voters share my view.

By Bill | 27 August 2012 8:40 AM

I watched the debate. I am surprise Samsom is the winner. I had put Roemer and Rutte best. Wilders seemed to be losing it. His continuous denigratory comments ("uw Kunduzvriendjes" said 4 times) were largely ignored; he was not "invited" for the f2f debate by anyone of the 3 other leaders and his litany of anger became boring. I thought Rutte should have kept his calm better when he debated f2f against Wilders (who called Rutte). The hate was too apparent. My guess is the Wilders will lose a lot at these elections and will thereafter leave the country

By the_expat | 27 August 2012 11:58 AM

D. Samson: "Families were forced to pay additional charges". Society does not consist of families only Mr. Samson. Every individual in paid work but especially single people, sole earners, bear the brunt of a heavier tax burden and still contribute most to society.

By Wol | 27 August 2012 7:28 PM