Dutch political landscape is splintering
The group of Dutch voters loyal to one party is diminishing. More parties are fishing for a share of the voters. It is getting more and more difficult to put together coalitions of 2 parties as was possible until the 90ies. There are seven parties that can count on roughly 18 percent of the electorate. This means coalition must have up to four parties to gain majorities and will lack stability and a mandate.
Christian parties solid political blocks
Of these people who vote for the Christian parties are regarded as a solid block. The largest, Christian Democrats (CDA) is a almagam of older parties, who were devided along confessional lines. Their voter base is shrinking due to deconfessionalisation. There is also the Christian Union (CU) and the SGP. These parties are small, but demografically stable as their electorate has a birth rate that off sets losses due to sheep wandering away from the flock.
Rate of Defection
In spite of the reputation for solidness Christian voters are defecting to the Freedom Party at a considerable rate. Between 15 and 21 percent of those who identify with a confessional political party voted for the Freedom Party.
Ideological opposition to Multiculturalism and Islam
This means that the Christian parties, whose voters are outside the big cities are not safe. Their voting base is concerned about Multiculturalism despite not experiencing it in everyday life.
(This article is based on analysis by peil.nl, a Dutch political opinion research firm)
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