Mark Rutte and the VVD win support during coronavirus crisis

The ruling right-wing Liberal party of prime minister Mark Rutte is the main gainer in the first poll of polls assessment of Dutch political support since the coronavirus crisis started.

The poll of polls (Peilingwijzer) is a combination of four separate opinion polls produced by I&O Research, Ipsos, EenVandaag and Kantar.

The new poll of polls gives the VVD between 32 and 36 seats in the 150-seat Dutch parliament – or 21% to 25% support, a rise of four percentage points on two months ago. The party won 33 seats at the last election.

Poll compiler Tom Louwerse said the growth in support for the VVD is part of a trend seen at the time of disasters. ‘You saw the same thing after the MH17 disaster, but the real question is, “how long will it last?”,’ Louwerse told broadcaster NOS.

Meanwhile, a survey by I&O Research has shown support for the Dutch cabinet has risen from 42% three weeks ago to 61% last weekend. Some 75% of the population support the economic measures taken by the cabinet and 91% back what Rutte has called an ‘intelligent lockdown’.

And even a majority of people who vote for the two far right parties PVV and FvD largely support the government, I&O said.

‘Crises lead to a yearning for unity, stability and determination,’ researcher Peter Kanne told RTL Nieuws. ‘Voters don’t want to see politicians fighting, but leaders who do what has to be done.’

Both the poll of polls and the I&O research show a decline in support for the two Dutch far-right parties PVV and FvD.

The next general election takes place in March 2021 and the current polls indicate at least five parties would be needed to form a stable coalition.