Election: small parties angered by television debate policy
Friday 17 August 2012
Small parties contesting the September general election are angry that only large, established parties are being invited to take part in television debates, the Volkskrant reports.
New groups such as 50Plus, the Pirate Party and Nederland Local say it is unfair they are being denied equal airtime.
'It is disturbing that Nos does not give new parties a chance to campaign,' said Pirate Party leader Dirk Poot in the Volkskrant. Although Nos has a public mandate to give airtime to all the parties, it acts as if only six parties exist, Poot said.
A spokesman for the Nos said parties are given air time if there is a journalistic reason to do so. Only established parties with a presence in the lower house of parliament are invited for debates because otherwise the group would be too unwieldy, Nos editor Peter Kloosterhuis told the Volkskrant.
Twenty-one parties are contesting the September 12 general election, 10 of which are currently represented in parliament.
Television election guide
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No, I don't think is fair that we can't hear from ALL PARTIES. The voting public has the right to hear from everyone....
By Donna | 18 August 2012 7:04 AMIf the TV companies receive government funding(the people's money)then they must act in an unbiased and fair way and give equal airtime to all parties. If they do not receive government funding they can do what they please.
By jaycee | 20 August 2012 11:05 AM"journalistic reason" what kind of animal is that? I thought the election and democracy was supposed to be about people's choice, the most informed choice, if possible. But if it is about "jurnalistic reasons" then it is mediocracy.
By kar | 20 August 2012 2:05 PMAdditionally, making the polls public should be forbidden some significant time before the election, in order not to suggest those "udecided yet". The election should be about voting for the best in one's opinion program, not the most popular one.
By kar | 20 August 2012 2:09 PMIn principle it is not fair. In fact I think many people would change channel as herds of unknown wannabe MPs flock the television programmes. It's a hard choice.
By the_expat | 20 August 2012 2:45 PMHave the non public stations come up with an idea of a debate contest yet? ALL parties can participate, and the peeps at home can televote who has to leave the show - grand finale on September 11. Problem solved. :-P
By Martin | 21 August 2012 12:39 AMI think some objective criteria is needed, like basing airtime on polls. Otherwise, you'd end giving the same time for mainstream parties and fringe/single-issue ones like SGP or Trops op Nederland or PvDD and who else.
By bringing tons of unknown and odd politicians to TV, people would just turn off. Moreover, the issue is not that relevant: we live in the Internet age where anyone can access any party site for free.
By Andre L. | 21 August 2012 1:38 AMTell me please the name of the party that keeps it's promise to represent the voters...and I will show you all the photos & videos of my 3rd vacation on mars :D
(Show me any party that genuinely cares for it's citizens, I'll show you the spaceship I flew in, right?
(Manifesto, Face Book, whatever!!)
By The visitor | 22 August 2012 12:14 AM