Crises and slow formation process dent confidence in politics

Confidence in politicians and the Dutch political system has plunged over the past year, with six in 10 people now saying they have little or very little faith in politics, according to an Ipsos poll.

Last year, just four in 10 said they had little confidence in the political system, and trust in the government grew over its handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Now however, six in 10 have no confidence in the caretaker cabinet. People on the political fringes are least likely to have trust in the system but even among Christian Democrats, 57% say they have little or no confidence in politics.

There are several main causes of this slump in support, Ipsos, which carried out the research for broadcaster NOS, said.  Some 72% said the length of time it is taking to form a new coalition has dented their confidence in national politics and a similar percentage say the Netherlands cannot afford to waste so much time.

Housing market problems, the health service and the child benefit scandal are also cited as major causes for concern.

Former CDA MP Peter Omtzigt is the best regarded politician of the moment, scoring seven out of 10 with voters. Volt leader and new MP Laurens Dassen and fellow newbie and pro-farmer MP Caroline van der Plas both score six. Mark Rutte is in eighth place in the ranking with a score of five, compared with 6.2 this time last year.

Second poll

A second poll by I&O research paints a similar picture and shows, says researcher Peter Kanne, that ‘the group of citizens who have no faith in institutions, around 15% of the total, are becoming radicalised’

‘People are giving up. There is hate and that is new,’ he said. ‘A large group of voters, primarily supporters of the [far right] FvD, PVV, JA21 and the [pro farmer] BBB are becoming increasingly distanced from the government.’

Formation

Meanwhile a poll by current affairs show EenVandaag suggests a clear majority of voters would rather there was a new general election than a minority cabinet – which now seems to be the most likely option.

Their number includes almost half the CDA and D66 voters. The VVD is the only party whose voters want to press ahead with the current formation process.