Dutch politics for outsiders (7)
Nov. 28th, 2005 06:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gerbieThe rise (and fall?) of the individual
More than in most countries, Dutch politics have been dominated by parties, not by individuals. The last few years though things seem to have changed. Several individuals try to storm the political arena, without ties to one of the traditional parties. They think not being attached is an advantage, considering that the majority of the people seem to have lost confidence in ‘old school politics’.
It all started with Pim Fortuyn in 2002 (Link to part one), but he never had the chance to prove that his theories did work. Perhaps this explains why several others think they can achieve ‘fame like Pim’. Eventually lack of experience and lack of time to write a good well considered programme would have been the downfall of Fortuyn as well, but as he was killed, people still consider him a messiah. He was even voted ‘Greatest Dutchman of all times’, which seems funny as he has won more after he was killed than in his whole life.
A year or two later Geert Wilders (read part five) thought he was the new Pim. Ever since he has only been in the news because he (allegedly) received death threats or because he found a way to tell the world what he thought of Muslims, usually followed by more threats. In the opinion polls he keeps dangling between 1 and 4%. Not a real force.
A few others have thought they had it as well. Hilbrand Nawijn (His website) used to be a frustrated CDA-member not making any progress, until the rise of Fortuyn offered him the opportunity to become a cabinet member for a short period. His flirt with extreme right wing politician De Winter from Belgium didn’t do him any favours. Nor did the fact that he was moaning about his office in Parliament, after he left the Fortuyn-party (LPF), show that he was busy with politics.
Other failures include Emiel Ratelband (His website) a self proclaimed management guru, failing at the first hurdle: being elected.
The latest to try his luck is Peter R. De Vries. De Vries is a crime journalist, with a television show that has been a success for the last decade. (his crime site). He has solved many crimes the police couldn’t solve, gaining popularity amongst the Dutch people. When Fortuyn was murdered, many wrote to him to solve the murder, they didn’t trust the police anymore.
Why De Vries thought that governing a country is similar to solving crimes is a mystery to me. Why many people think he would be great as a politician puzzles me even more. He certainly is vain enough to be a politician. The R. in his name is just a letter. Without it, his name would seem ordinary. So he added it, following the American example of the middle name, not a regular Dutch thing. He named his party Partij voor Rechtvaardigheid, Daadkracht en Vooruitgang. Shorten it and you’ll see the same abbreviation as his own initials. It means something like "Party for justice, Strength (Babelfish gives me action strength) and progress".
His programme includes typical right wing idea’s like ‘Third strike out’ and more money for the justice department. On the other hand he also wants leftist things like more money for developing countries and legalizing soft drugs. Finally he has some outsiders idea’s wanting to lose civil servants and abolish the Eerste Kamer (the congress controlling the legislative power).
For Dutch readers his programme can be found at his site: PRDV
He did do something different though: He wants to people to tell him if he should continue his journey to The Hague. During the last election 80% of the Dutch voted. Therefore he wants 41% to tell him he should continue, this will be measured next month in an opinion poll. If not, he calls it quits. In polls at the moment he scores about 25%, though only 3% of actual votes. Not a real threat for the ruling political parties it seems.
The amount of individuals trying to gain power outside the political system should worry them though.
(part 1-6 can still be read through the memories or tags)
More than in most countries, Dutch politics have been dominated by parties, not by individuals. The last few years though things seem to have changed. Several individuals try to storm the political arena, without ties to one of the traditional parties. They think not being attached is an advantage, considering that the majority of the people seem to have lost confidence in ‘old school politics’.
It all started with Pim Fortuyn in 2002 (Link to part one), but he never had the chance to prove that his theories did work. Perhaps this explains why several others think they can achieve ‘fame like Pim’. Eventually lack of experience and lack of time to write a good well considered programme would have been the downfall of Fortuyn as well, but as he was killed, people still consider him a messiah. He was even voted ‘Greatest Dutchman of all times’, which seems funny as he has won more after he was killed than in his whole life.
A year or two later Geert Wilders (read part five) thought he was the new Pim. Ever since he has only been in the news because he (allegedly) received death threats or because he found a way to tell the world what he thought of Muslims, usually followed by more threats. In the opinion polls he keeps dangling between 1 and 4%. Not a real force.
A few others have thought they had it as well. Hilbrand Nawijn (His website) used to be a frustrated CDA-member not making any progress, until the rise of Fortuyn offered him the opportunity to become a cabinet member for a short period. His flirt with extreme right wing politician De Winter from Belgium didn’t do him any favours. Nor did the fact that he was moaning about his office in Parliament, after he left the Fortuyn-party (LPF), show that he was busy with politics.
Other failures include Emiel Ratelband (His website) a self proclaimed management guru, failing at the first hurdle: being elected.
The latest to try his luck is Peter R. De Vries. De Vries is a crime journalist, with a television show that has been a success for the last decade. (his crime site). He has solved many crimes the police couldn’t solve, gaining popularity amongst the Dutch people. When Fortuyn was murdered, many wrote to him to solve the murder, they didn’t trust the police anymore.
Why De Vries thought that governing a country is similar to solving crimes is a mystery to me. Why many people think he would be great as a politician puzzles me even more. He certainly is vain enough to be a politician. The R. in his name is just a letter. Without it, his name would seem ordinary. So he added it, following the American example of the middle name, not a regular Dutch thing. He named his party Partij voor Rechtvaardigheid, Daadkracht en Vooruitgang. Shorten it and you’ll see the same abbreviation as his own initials. It means something like "Party for justice, Strength (Babelfish gives me action strength) and progress".
His programme includes typical right wing idea’s like ‘Third strike out’ and more money for the justice department. On the other hand he also wants leftist things like more money for developing countries and legalizing soft drugs. Finally he has some outsiders idea’s wanting to lose civil servants and abolish the Eerste Kamer (the congress controlling the legislative power).
For Dutch readers his programme can be found at his site: PRDV
He did do something different though: He wants to people to tell him if he should continue his journey to The Hague. During the last election 80% of the Dutch voted. Therefore he wants 41% to tell him he should continue, this will be measured next month in an opinion poll. If not, he calls it quits. In polls at the moment he scores about 25%, though only 3% of actual votes. Not a real threat for the ruling political parties it seems.
The amount of individuals trying to gain power outside the political system should worry them though.
(part 1-6 can still be read through the memories or tags)
