DutchNews.nl - Election: campaign nears climax, parties emphasise divisions

With just two days to go before the Netherlands elects a new 150-seat lower house of parliament, and polls suggesting a two-way race for the prime minister's job, party leaders are again out in force to get their message across.

Opinion polls show the right-wing VVD and Labour party PvdA are now neck and neck and pundits suggest a centre 'purple' coalition may be inevitable, leading both party leaders to emphasise the wide gap between their policies

VVD leader and prime minister Mark Rutte said in an interview with website nu.nl single mothers on welfare benefits are exactly the sort of people who should be voting for his party.

Far too many people are told by social services that they will never get a job, Rutte said. ‘Don’t let them tell you what to do. A job gives you independence, social contact and you develop your talents, the VVD leader said.

‘Election debates are about 1% more or less in welfare benefits. But you have a much better income if you get a job,’ Rutte said. ‘That is why single mums on welfare should vote VVD.’

Labour leader Diederik Samsom told a campaign meeting in Drachten on Sunday evening that two years of ‘rotten right-wing policies’ had increased divisions in Dutch society.

‘Change is in the air and that can be a reality in 72 hours,’ he is quoted as saying by the NRC. ‘The VVD and CDA stood and watched while bridges were torn down. We can rebuild that bridge together.

Rutte said on Saturday the rise of the PvdA is a danger to the future of the Netherlands.

Socialist Party leader Emile Roemer tells the AD he fears there will be little left of the Labour party’s left-wing inclinations after the vote.

A number of senior party members want to adopt more right-wing policies than in recent years and the party is embroiled in an internal struggle, Roemer says.

The SP leader had an early lead on Labour in the campaign but has now been overtaken, following strong performances by Samsom in televised debates.

Meanwhile, Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration PVV, told the Telegraaf he expects his party to win 24 seats in Wednesday’s vote, well above opinion poll predictions.

And returning to familiar terrain, Wilders also launched a personal attack on Samsom.

‘He is a big Islam hugger, almost as pro-Europe as [D66 leader Alexander] Pechtold and I read that he has been arrested 10 times,’ Wilders told the paper. ‘I don’t know if that is the sort of person we want in the prime minister’s office.’

Christian Democrat leader Sybrand van Haersma Buma has told RTL election show Wat Kiest Nederland that he would not support a left-wing coalition involving Labour and the SP.

The Financieele Dagblad points out that Buma said in an interview with the paper that he would not rule out working with either party.

Buma told the FD he would not work again with the PVV but declined to comment on other potential coalitions.

The CDA is heading for major losses on Wednesday. After seeing its support halve to 21 in June 2010, the polls now predict the CDA will take just 13 seats this time round.

What do you consider the main issue of the campaign? Have your say using the comment box below.

Readers' Comments

The main issue for me is to get rid of the racists who ran last time.Nothing else matters. Verhangen Rutte and Wilders are all guilty as are a few others who decided to legitamize racism as a normal way to fight politics by bending over backwards for the PVV.I see in typical Dutch attitudes everyone is pretending it never happened.

By jason buttle | 10 September 2012 9:15 AM

Too much comments about the racist party. That's not the issue. We need to fight austerity.

By Philippe | 10 September 2012 9:28 AM

As a former single mom, the thought of voting for Rutte makes me want to hurl chunks. He knows NOTHING about our lives and what we do to make them better. Nor does he give a crap.

By CW | 10 September 2012 2:40 PM

Hi,
In a democracy elections are a substitute for the incompetent many for the appointment of the corrupt few.

By Terence Hale | 10 September 2012 3:57 PM

The main issue for me is how on earth the PvdA gets away with stealing the SP's policies time after time, and why people believe they will implement any of them. Social democrats have spent the last three decades giving the people's property away, in country after country, and undermining social provision. Another purple cabinet will simply do the same. Business as usual.

By Steve McGiffen | 10 September 2012 4:46 PM

A vote for the VVD is a vote for a huge increase in own-pay on Health Insurance, and own-pay visits to the family doctor (on top of ever-rising health policies).

Those who can afford the healthiest lifestyles, gym memberships and organic veggies are the ones who can afford this, and those on tight budgets and/or who cannot work already because of chronic illness, cannot.

By osita | 10 September 2012 4:58 PM

I simply would like to see the Dutch place a vote that will create a stable strong cabinet; it almost does not matter what that is anymore. In the past 15 years this is the 7th election held due to cabinet formations that 'collapse' and then there is demissionary government and nothing happens. I swear Belgium looks more capabale of maintaining some political stability at this point. The saddest thing is - I think it will happen again! I do not think these parties can 'get along' and make the compromises needed to keep a stable cabinet. Perhaps this says something about the Dutch themselves...and other problems I encounter here.

By Bill | 11 September 2012 6:43 AM

One of Rutte's slogans is that he will clamp down on criminals. Does that mean he will start putting them in jail instead of putting criminals in charge of our banks?

By Andy | 11 September 2012 11:54 AM

The main issue for the campaign for me is immigration and the protection of Dutch culture & this issue will always be the main issue until it is solve. I will be voting PVV!

By phil | 11 September 2012 1:42 PM