Housing is one of the key election spearheads in the provisional manifesto presented by the CDA on Monday.

The Christian Democrats are “putting people looking for a home first” and want building activity to add “not one street but a whole neighbourhood”, according to the document.

The party also wants a gradual reduction of mortgage tax relief for homeowners, a politically sensitive measure which is also supported by GroenLinks-PvdA. The freed-up money would be used to lower income tax, the CDA said.

Another controversial issue in the manifesto of the originally farmer-friendly party is the forced buyout of farmers from 2030 in order to reduce nitrogen pollution.

The CDA, which profiles itself as the “decent” party, also wants to reinstate compulsory military service and is planning to introduce a “freedom contribution” to pay for the investments in defence to achieve Nato norms.

The recognition of the Palestinian state, previously not a CDA priority, is also in the manifesto, as well as a ban on imports from the occupied West Bank on condition that Hamas plays no part in the formation of a Palestinian government.

Other proposals include a tax on empty properties, stricter rules for online influencers and finfluencers, free fruit for school children, a rise of the minimum smoking age to 21, a ban on lootboxes and Buy Now Pay Later schemes, and an end to the CO2 tax.

The CDA currently has five seats, having lost votes to BBB and NSC at the last election. According to the latest poll of polls, the party is cruising toward 14 seats, putting it on a par with the VVD, while NSC is forecast to be wiped out.

Under leader Henri Bontenbal, the party seems to be steering a more progressive course. It voted against the stricter asylum laws proposed by PVV former asylum minister Marjolein Faber and is in favour of maintaining the so-called “spreidingswet” or spreading law, designed to ensure local authorities share the cost and responsiblity of accommodating refugees.

The manifesto will be discussed by the membership at the next party congress on September 5. A list of candidates will be published on Wednesday.