Here is video of the leaders of the three parties Mark Rutte, Maxime Verhagen and Geert Wilders announcing having come to an agreement. All in Dutch of course, but one can sense the relief of the three leaders.
The agreements or regeeraccoord still has to be approved by the three parties, the right-liberal VVD, the Christian-Democrat CDA and the populist PVV.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
It is Done! We got a right-wing government
A King with two vassals
The news just came out a few minutes ago on De Telegraaf. There is a right-wing minority government in The Netherlands after a 111 days of negotiating. Right-Liberal VVD and Christian Democrat have agreed on a settlement (Dutch) or regeeraccoord with the populist Freedom Party (PVV) of Geert Wilders.
Edit: it is not yet done. The parties have to approve the agreement. The deal can still be torpedoed. I got carried away.
The news just came out a few minutes ago on De Telegraaf. There is a right-wing minority government in The Netherlands after a 111 days of negotiating. Right-Liberal VVD and Christian Democrat have agreed on a settlement (Dutch) or regeeraccoord with the populist Freedom Party (PVV) of Geert Wilders.
Edit: it is not yet done. The parties have to approve the agreement. The deal can still be torpedoed. I got carried away.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
European Turks splintering away from the mainstream
The European public and European leaders reacted with concern when the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan opposed assimilation of Turks in Europe, specifically Germany. In 2008 Erdogan said:
There is evidence that societies in Europe are not coming together, but falling apart. Children are not going to school together. The phenomenon of "black schools" has been a contentious issue in The Netherlands for years. Some examples across Europe:
Belgium: Esther reported that a Flemish school set up separate classes for immigrants and ethnic Flemish children in response to parent requests. Read: Belgium: Apartheid in Schools.
Danmark: in two other reports Esther showed Danish schools are splitting up classes as well and the issue is alive in Sweden too. Read Danish Apartheid 1 and Danish Apartheid 2.
Germany: in his recent book "Deutschland schafft sich ab" German banker Thilo Sarrazin addresses the issue in Germany.
Austria: Gates of Vienna mentions an Viennese school with 98.5 percent foreigners in its classes.
The Netherlands: anecdotal evidence. A Turkish friend told me that the Turkish community in The Netherlands has become self-contained. He and his friends agree that they hardly meet Dutch people outside the workplace. "Dutch people do not want to know us anymore".
The setting up of a separate society does not only happen at the levels of daily social interaction the school-going anymore. Esther reports today Turkish doctors setting up clinics aimed at the market of Turks living in The Netherlands. The clinics see an opportunity to deliver their services in a way that suits Turks better, as communication with Dutch health care professionals is deemed problematic.
If society was really coming together as the Multiculturalists keep insisting, would there be so many examples of social separation accross Europe?
I repeat... assimilation is a crime against humanity [..] I explained over there (Germany) that they must differentiate very clearly between assimilation and integration.Multi-culturalist ideologues hold that society is coming together and that national, religious and ethnic boundaries are being erased. Indeed, some boundaries are fading. Differences between religious denominations fall away as religion is taken less serious by Europeans. Regions are losing their distinct flavour as regional dialects, customs and building styles are dissapearing and replaced by individualism and blander modernist styles. However it is becoming increasingly clear that the Multi-culturalist story is overlooking new and widening chasms causing sharply separated social groupings.
There is evidence that societies in Europe are not coming together, but falling apart. Children are not going to school together. The phenomenon of "black schools" has been a contentious issue in The Netherlands for years. Some examples across Europe:
Belgium: Esther reported that a Flemish school set up separate classes for immigrants and ethnic Flemish children in response to parent requests. Read: Belgium: Apartheid in Schools.
Danmark: in two other reports Esther showed Danish schools are splitting up classes as well and the issue is alive in Sweden too. Read Danish Apartheid 1 and Danish Apartheid 2.
Germany: in his recent book "Deutschland schafft sich ab" German banker Thilo Sarrazin addresses the issue in Germany.
Austria: Gates of Vienna mentions an Viennese school with 98.5 percent foreigners in its classes.
The Netherlands: anecdotal evidence. A Turkish friend told me that the Turkish community in The Netherlands has become self-contained. He and his friends agree that they hardly meet Dutch people outside the workplace. "Dutch people do not want to know us anymore".
The setting up of a separate society does not only happen at the levels of daily social interaction the school-going anymore. Esther reports today Turkish doctors setting up clinics aimed at the market of Turks living in The Netherlands. The clinics see an opportunity to deliver their services in a way that suits Turks better, as communication with Dutch health care professionals is deemed problematic.
If society was really coming together as the Multiculturalists keep insisting, would there be so many examples of social separation accross Europe?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Ground Zero speech by Geert Wilders
A fine speech was given at Ground Zero by Geert Wilders today to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the 11 September attack by the spearhead of Islam: the Base or Al-Qaida.
Dear friends, May I ask you to be silent for ten seconds? Just be silent and listen. Ten seconds. And listen… What we hear are the sounds of life in the greatest city on earth. No place in the world, no place in human history, is as richly varied and vibrant and dynamic as New York City. You hear the cars, you hear the people, you hear them rushing to their various destinations, you hear the sounds of business and of pleasure, you hear the cheers, you hear the cries, the buzzing sounds of human activity. And that is how it should be. Always. Now close your eyes – I know it’s a beautiful day, but close your eyes. I have been told that this day nine years ago was just such a beautiful day -- and remember, or try to remember, or try to imagine the sounds which were heard here on this spot under this same blue sky exactly nine years ago. The sound of shock, the sound of MORE
Thursday, September 09, 2010
The right wing says: give it another try
Sultan Wilders shows his magnanimity
After the Christian Democrat (CDA) MP Ab Klink, who busted the coalition talks, left Parliament on Monday the road was open to restart the talks. Initially Freedom PArty (PVV) Geert Wilders refused saying there were still two ant PVV MPs left in the CDA. But on Tuesday he relented. Chief Christian Democrat (CDA) agreed. That evening the leader of the right liberal VVD Rutte announced to the press that the negotiations would indeed be restarted. This embarrassed the Queen of The Netherlands. According to the protocol she has to be informed first and act first. The act she could have done is to appoint another chairman (informateur) of the negotiations.
Dividing the spoils
Rutte was hauled over the coals about his gaffe in parliament. But the negotiations continued and apparently most issues have been hammered into a settlement (regeeraccoord) out and what is left is mostly the VVD and CDA rewarding themselves with the minister and deputy minister positions.
Let's see what happens
After the Christian Democrat (CDA) MP Ab Klink, who busted the coalition talks, left Parliament on Monday the road was open to restart the talks. Initially Freedom PArty (PVV) Geert Wilders refused saying there were still two ant PVV MPs left in the CDA. But on Tuesday he relented. Chief Christian Democrat (CDA) agreed. That evening the leader of the right liberal VVD Rutte announced to the press that the negotiations would indeed be restarted. This embarrassed the Queen of The Netherlands. According to the protocol she has to be informed first and act first. The act she could have done is to appoint another chairman (informateur) of the negotiations.
Dividing the spoils
Rutte was hauled over the coals about his gaffe in parliament. But the negotiations continued and apparently most issues have been hammered into a settlement (regeeraccoord) out and what is left is mostly the VVD and CDA rewarding themselves with the minister and deputy minister positions.
Let's see what happens
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Queen of The Netherlands shows Multi-cultural colour again
The figurehead of Multi-cultural ideology
The heraldic colour of the Dutch Royal family is orange. But ideologically the present Queen Beatrix colours red and in the present day and age that means she supports Multi-culturalism.
After the negotiations for a right wing coalition ran to the ground last Friday, the chairman of the negotiations or informateur Mr. Ivo Opstelten had to give up his position.
The Queen then appointed another informateur. It is the second time he was appointed. The previous time he had to chair the negotiations for a left wing coalition. It is Tjeenk Willink, the Head of the Council of State. After Tjeenk Willink spoke to all the left wing last time he made a final report to the Queen as is his job. He added an addendum stating that in order to protect the core values of The Netherlands it would be necessary to maintain the principle of non-discrimination ridgidly, down even to immigration policy. This means that Mr. Willink favours continued mass-immigration in the face of the considerable electoral victory of anti immigration parties Freedom Party (PVV) and right liberal VVD.
Incredibly this ideologue has now been appointed as chair of the new negotiations of the new round of negotiations again.
PVV's Geert Wilders already called for Tjeenk Willink's replacement.
Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold
Dutch society is losing its anchors. Political parties and politicians are weakening, as is the judiciary, the police and the Church. The Queen by expressing her favour for Multi-Culturalism so strongly and partisanly is undermining another anchor of Dutch society: the Monarchy. Society is splintered and unstable and the people at the top are hastening the unravelling of the social and political fabric. It is an incredible spectacle. Greatly saddening.
The heraldic colour of the Dutch Royal family is orange. But ideologically the present Queen Beatrix colours red and in the present day and age that means she supports Multi-culturalism.
After the negotiations for a right wing coalition ran to the ground last Friday, the chairman of the negotiations or informateur Mr. Ivo Opstelten had to give up his position.
The Queen then appointed another informateur. It is the second time he was appointed. The previous time he had to chair the negotiations for a left wing coalition. It is Tjeenk Willink, the Head of the Council of State. After Tjeenk Willink spoke to all the left wing last time he made a final report to the Queen as is his job. He added an addendum stating that in order to protect the core values of The Netherlands it would be necessary to maintain the principle of non-discrimination ridgidly, down even to immigration policy. This means that Mr. Willink favours continued mass-immigration in the face of the considerable electoral victory of anti immigration parties Freedom Party (PVV) and right liberal VVD.
Incredibly this ideologue has now been appointed as chair of the new negotiations of the new round of negotiations again.
PVV's Geert Wilders already called for Tjeenk Willink's replacement.
Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold
Dutch society is losing its anchors. Political parties and politicians are weakening, as is the judiciary, the police and the Church. The Queen by expressing her favour for Multi-Culturalism so strongly and partisanly is undermining another anchor of Dutch society: the Monarchy. Society is splintered and unstable and the people at the top are hastening the unravelling of the social and political fabric. It is an incredible spectacle. Greatly saddening.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Geert Wilders is taking charge
The true focus of the political game
In my opinion the Freedom Party (PVV) is becoming increasingly dominant in Dutch politics. Politics is increasingly revolving around Geert Wilders the PVV and its program for years. Politicians who want to make a name for themselves, do so by publicly opposing the PVV program and by expressing their hostility to Geert Wilders. This is seen in the come back from oblivion by leftist D66 under Pechtold.
Today is Mr. Wilders' 47th birthday and this is a good occassion to focus on his and his party's achievements so far.
Getting closer
Recently Wilders' dominance is coming sharper into focus. Last Friday the attempts to the formation of a right wing coalition with the PVV ended over the expression of refusal and opposition of three CDA members to alliance with the PVV. The CDA is split over their approach to Multiculturalism and the internal conflict is made flesh in this refusal of Ab Klink and the other two CDA rebels. This again shows the centrality of the PVV in the political proces. Furthermore it was Geert Wilders who withdrew from the negotiations after declaring the unreliability of the torn Christian Democrats (CDA). Mr. Wilders showed his dominance by taking this action.
The axing of the rebel
Finally today Ab Klink, the CDA rebel, left parliament politically broken, a fact which has been noticed by all those who are in active politics. Just one week after Mr. Klink wrote his letter expressing his opposition to continuing negotiating for a coalition with the tacit support of the PVV he has been forced to remove himself from the stage of national politics, probably for good. The message is clear, this is what happens when one opposes the PVV.
Not bad for a party which was started just four years ago.
In my opinion the Freedom Party (PVV) is becoming increasingly dominant in Dutch politics. Politics is increasingly revolving around Geert Wilders the PVV and its program for years. Politicians who want to make a name for themselves, do so by publicly opposing the PVV program and by expressing their hostility to Geert Wilders. This is seen in the come back from oblivion by leftist D66 under Pechtold.
Today is Mr. Wilders' 47th birthday and this is a good occassion to focus on his and his party's achievements so far.
Getting closer
Recently Wilders' dominance is coming sharper into focus. Last Friday the attempts to the formation of a right wing coalition with the PVV ended over the expression of refusal and opposition of three CDA members to alliance with the PVV. The CDA is split over their approach to Multiculturalism and the internal conflict is made flesh in this refusal of Ab Klink and the other two CDA rebels. This again shows the centrality of the PVV in the political proces. Furthermore it was Geert Wilders who withdrew from the negotiations after declaring the unreliability of the torn Christian Democrats (CDA). Mr. Wilders showed his dominance by taking this action.
The axing of the rebel
Finally today Ab Klink, the CDA rebel, left parliament politically broken, a fact which has been noticed by all those who are in active politics. Just one week after Mr. Klink wrote his letter expressing his opposition to continuing negotiating for a coalition with the tacit support of the PVV he has been forced to remove himself from the stage of national politics, probably for good. The message is clear, this is what happens when one opposes the PVV.
Not bad for a party which was started just four years ago.
Christian democrat Klink stops kicking and screaming
End of a career
Last Friday the news came out, that the negotiations for a right wing cabinet of right liberals (VVD), Christian-Democrats (CDA) with tacit support of the populist Freedom Party (PVV) ended in failure. Negotiations were given up after Ab Klink, a CDA MP and one of two negotiators on the CDA team, had sent a letter to his party leadership in which he articulated his principled opposition to collaboration with a populist party such as the PVV. Apart from Ab Klink two other CDA MPs were opposed to any political alliance with the PVV, no matter how informal.
This resulted in PVV-leader Geert Wilders asking for assurances in writing that all CDA MPs would fully support the settlement or agreement that was to be reached in order to from a coalition government. The CDA negotiating team, from which Mr. Klink had already been removed refused to do so. At this point the unreliability of the CDA as a possible coalition partner had become fully exposed. The PVV then broke off the negotiations.
Taking the consequences
Mr. Ab Klink understood that he had become unreliable in the eyes of possible political partners of the CDA. That he had become a liability to his party. Today he stopped being a CDA MP and if I understand things correctly he will be replaced by someone with a lower ranking on the CDA list of MPs. Mr. Klink did express (Dutch) that the reason for him leaving Parliament was that he had become unreliable in te eyes of others.
Now that Klink is gone there are still two left in the CDA parliamentary fraction, who are opposed to co-operation with the PVV, as Geert Wilders noticed. He reacted non-committally:
Ab Klink was a protege of Mr. Hirsch Ballin, who is the Minister of Justice. Under Hirsch Ballins the public prosecutor of the Court of Amsterdam has indicted Geert Wilders for political offenses, such as "hate speech" and "discrimination". In my view the forces behind the case against Wilders, which will resume in October, have been weakened by the set back or perhaps end of the career of Ab Klink.
Last Friday the news came out, that the negotiations for a right wing cabinet of right liberals (VVD), Christian-Democrats (CDA) with tacit support of the populist Freedom Party (PVV) ended in failure. Negotiations were given up after Ab Klink, a CDA MP and one of two negotiators on the CDA team, had sent a letter to his party leadership in which he articulated his principled opposition to collaboration with a populist party such as the PVV. Apart from Ab Klink two other CDA MPs were opposed to any political alliance with the PVV, no matter how informal.
This resulted in PVV-leader Geert Wilders asking for assurances in writing that all CDA MPs would fully support the settlement or agreement that was to be reached in order to from a coalition government. The CDA negotiating team, from which Mr. Klink had already been removed refused to do so. At this point the unreliability of the CDA as a possible coalition partner had become fully exposed. The PVV then broke off the negotiations.
Taking the consequences
Mr. Ab Klink understood that he had become unreliable in the eyes of possible political partners of the CDA. That he had become a liability to his party. Today he stopped being a CDA MP and if I understand things correctly he will be replaced by someone with a lower ranking on the CDA list of MPs. Mr. Klink did express (Dutch) that the reason for him leaving Parliament was that he had become unreliable in te eyes of others.
Now that Klink is gone there are still two left in the CDA parliamentary fraction, who are opposed to co-operation with the PVV, as Geert Wilders noticed. He reacted non-committally:
we will see were this takes usApparently he does not see a reason to rush into new negotiations.
Ab Klink was a protege of Mr. Hirsch Ballin, who is the Minister of Justice. Under Hirsch Ballins the public prosecutor of the Court of Amsterdam has indicted Geert Wilders for political offenses, such as "hate speech" and "discrimination". In my view the forces behind the case against Wilders, which will resume in October, have been weakened by the set back or perhaps end of the career of Ab Klink.
Friday, September 03, 2010
No right-wing cabinet
It is now 17: 46 hours and I see an article popping up on Nu.nl. It says that the negotiations for a right-wing cabinet in The Netherlands have failed. There will be a televised press conference at 18:00 hours.
This is dissapointing. It will have repercussions for the Court case against Geert Wilders I m afraid.
This is dissapointing. It will have repercussions for the Court case against Geert Wilders I m afraid.
Christian democrats dragged along kicking and screaming 3
The CDA opposition to Wilders
The negotiations to create a new right-wing coalition are marred by the unreliability of some of the Christian Democrat (CDA) MPs. Yesterday this blog featured an article about an option to enlist the support of the orthodox Christian SGP-party. This party with two MPs would extent the right-wing majority from 76 to 78. In case of wavering in the CDA two MPs could refuse to support a proposed bill. However the number of CDA MPs who are hostile to co-operation with the Freedom Party (PVV) is three.
What are their names?
Their names are:
- Ab Klink;
- Adriaan Koppejan;
- Katleen Ferrier.
Interestingly the latter is an immigrant from former Dutch colony Surinam. Ab Klink was on the negotiating team, negotiating for an agreement to form a right-wing government with the tacit support of the PVV.
What can be done?
Is there an options to replace the MPs by the party leadership? According to Dutch electoral law (Kieswet) MPs are elected to their seat on their personal title and not on a party ticket. The MP owns his seat and the party does not. The party is just a club or association (vereniging). The number of three rebellious Christian Democrats is a serious impedient to the formation of an effective right-wing cabinet.
The negotiations to create a new right-wing coalition are marred by the unreliability of some of the Christian Democrat (CDA) MPs. Yesterday this blog featured an article about an option to enlist the support of the orthodox Christian SGP-party. This party with two MPs would extent the right-wing majority from 76 to 78. In case of wavering in the CDA two MPs could refuse to support a proposed bill. However the number of CDA MPs who are hostile to co-operation with the Freedom Party (PVV) is three.
What are their names?
Their names are:
- Ab Klink;
- Adriaan Koppejan;
- Katleen Ferrier.
Interestingly the latter is an immigrant from former Dutch colony Surinam. Ab Klink was on the negotiating team, negotiating for an agreement to form a right-wing government with the tacit support of the PVV.
What can be done?
Is there an options to replace the MPs by the party leadership? According to Dutch electoral law (Kieswet) MPs are elected to their seat on their personal title and not on a party ticket. The MP owns his seat and the party does not. The party is just a club or association (vereniging). The number of three rebellious Christian Democrats is a serious impedient to the formation of an effective right-wing cabinet.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Broadening the base
Christian Democrat unreliability
This blog previously featured a piece mentioning that even if a right wing minority cabinet with tacit support of the Freedom Party (PVV) is established it will not amount to much. The three parties have a minimum majority. 76 out of 150 seats. With various members of the Christian Democrats unreconciled to the idea of having to actually implement measures against mass immigration and multiculturalism the government will not be able to be very effective. Therefore it will be unsatisfactory for all participants both the CDA, the right-liberal VVD or the PVV. One way to diminish such problems is by broadening the base of the cabinet beyond the present 76 MPs that it counts. By pulling a fourth party into the settlement.
Two extra MPs
For instance by pulling an orthodox Christian party, the SGP, into the coalition the base will be broadened from 76 to 78. With a mere 78 MPs the defection of up to two MPs from the CDA will be meaningless.
Permanent alliance shifting
This is doable. A minority government settlement (regeeraccoord) is going to be more loose, allow more leeway than the very narrow contractual settlements that rule two party majority coalitions. It is possible to find agreement from issue to issue and vote to vote. There will be temporary coalitions formed in order to pass any vote and the pace of passing legislation will be much lower than has been the custom. This is a boon from a conservative point of view.
Politics will be in constant flux and be hard for the people to follow. This will lower the standing of politics and politicians even more than is now the case.
This blog previously featured a piece mentioning that even if a right wing minority cabinet with tacit support of the Freedom Party (PVV) is established it will not amount to much. The three parties have a minimum majority. 76 out of 150 seats. With various members of the Christian Democrats unreconciled to the idea of having to actually implement measures against mass immigration and multiculturalism the government will not be able to be very effective. Therefore it will be unsatisfactory for all participants both the CDA, the right-liberal VVD or the PVV. One way to diminish such problems is by broadening the base of the cabinet beyond the present 76 MPs that it counts. By pulling a fourth party into the settlement.
Two extra MPs
For instance by pulling an orthodox Christian party, the SGP, into the coalition the base will be broadened from 76 to 78. With a mere 78 MPs the defection of up to two MPs from the CDA will be meaningless.
Permanent alliance shifting
This is doable. A minority government settlement (regeeraccoord) is going to be more loose, allow more leeway than the very narrow contractual settlements that rule two party majority coalitions. It is possible to find agreement from issue to issue and vote to vote. There will be temporary coalitions formed in order to pass any vote and the pace of passing legislation will be much lower than has been the custom. This is a boon from a conservative point of view.
Politics will be in constant flux and be hard for the people to follow. This will lower the standing of politics and politicians even more than is now the case.
Christian democrats dragged along kicking and screaming 2
Towards a right-wing government
The rebellion amongst the Christian Democrat (CDA) negotiating team has been surpressed. The leadership of the Christian-Democrats (CDA) has resolved to continue the negotiations to form a minority cabinet. This is a cabinet of right-liberals (VVD) and CDA with the tacit support of the populist Freedom Party (PVV).
Heads roll
The instigator of the unrest, negotiator and MP Ab Klink has been removed from the two men negotiating team. He has been replaced by Ank Bijleveld, who will continue to try to create a settlement which will find acceptance with the VVD and PVV.
Whether this will end the troubles afflicting the CDA is unlikely. They will continue to prove unreliable, even though all 21 MPs of the CDA agreed to continue negotiating.
Steaming ahead
Meanwhile the PVV is already e-mailing its volunteers to prepare them to assist in the campaign for the Provinces and the Senate in March 2011. Perhaps we will even have a new cabinet by then.
The rebellion amongst the Christian Democrat (CDA) negotiating team has been surpressed. The leadership of the Christian-Democrats (CDA) has resolved to continue the negotiations to form a minority cabinet. This is a cabinet of right-liberals (VVD) and CDA with the tacit support of the populist Freedom Party (PVV).
Heads roll
The instigator of the unrest, negotiator and MP Ab Klink has been removed from the two men negotiating team. He has been replaced by Ank Bijleveld, who will continue to try to create a settlement which will find acceptance with the VVD and PVV.
Whether this will end the troubles afflicting the CDA is unlikely. They will continue to prove unreliable, even though all 21 MPs of the CDA agreed to continue negotiating.
Steaming ahead
Meanwhile the PVV is already e-mailing its volunteers to prepare them to assist in the campaign for the Provinces and the Senate in March 2011. Perhaps we will even have a new cabinet by then.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Formation running aground
The sandbar
Well it has happened. Yesterday the ship of the negotiations for a cabinet consisting of right-liberals (VVD), Christian Democrats (CDA) and the populist Freedom Party (PVV) has run on a sandbar, stalled and the crew is trashing about.
A split team
The negotiations team to form a new cabinet consists of 6 persons. Two from each party. The CDA is represented by Maxime Verhagen and Ab Klink. Ab Klink opposes formation of a cabinet with support from the PVV on grounds of principle. It is not clear which one of Klink's principle's have been violated. Otherwise Klink has send a letter to the party leadership last Monday stating that he thought that his party is getting a raw deal out of the negotiation. He should know. He is one of the two negotiators.
The other negotiator on the CDA team, Maxime Verhagen, wants to press ahead with negotiations.
A narrow majority
Klink has a essential poition any cabinet of VVD, CDA and PVV will have 76 seats out of 150. That is the tiniest of majorities. Every seat is pivotal.
Getting underway again
The CDA MP's met in the early afternoon and have resolved to have talks with all the individual MP's. The idea is to sound them out whether they would agree to continue with the negotiations for a minority cabinet. Whether this makes any sense when the minority cabinet needs all the seats it has. And Ab Klink already having made clear that he wants the negotiations to discontinue is unclear to me.
CDA in dissarray
It is becoming obvious that the CDA is in convulsions and that the troubles which befell Labour (PvdA) and VVD when they had to confront the issues of the failing of Multiculturalism are now hitting the CDA. Its orderly ranks are being ripped apart by discord and fraticide. The CDA is nearly without leadership. The former PM Balkenende has left after the halving of the vote for the CDA. Balkenende's deputy and replacement Camiel Eurling conveniently left politics just before the elections. The old guard of the party is plotting in the shades to sabotage co-operation with the PVV.
Any resolution to these problems is going to be short-lived
Well it has happened. Yesterday the ship of the negotiations for a cabinet consisting of right-liberals (VVD), Christian Democrats (CDA) and the populist Freedom Party (PVV) has run on a sandbar, stalled and the crew is trashing about.
A split team
The negotiations team to form a new cabinet consists of 6 persons. Two from each party. The CDA is represented by Maxime Verhagen and Ab Klink. Ab Klink opposes formation of a cabinet with support from the PVV on grounds of principle. It is not clear which one of Klink's principle's have been violated. Otherwise Klink has send a letter to the party leadership last Monday stating that he thought that his party is getting a raw deal out of the negotiation. He should know. He is one of the two negotiators.
The other negotiator on the CDA team, Maxime Verhagen, wants to press ahead with negotiations.
A narrow majority
Klink has a essential poition any cabinet of VVD, CDA and PVV will have 76 seats out of 150. That is the tiniest of majorities. Every seat is pivotal.
Getting underway again
The CDA MP's met in the early afternoon and have resolved to have talks with all the individual MP's. The idea is to sound them out whether they would agree to continue with the negotiations for a minority cabinet. Whether this makes any sense when the minority cabinet needs all the seats it has. And Ab Klink already having made clear that he wants the negotiations to discontinue is unclear to me.
CDA in dissarray
It is becoming obvious that the CDA is in convulsions and that the troubles which befell Labour (PvdA) and VVD when they had to confront the issues of the failing of Multiculturalism are now hitting the CDA. Its orderly ranks are being ripped apart by discord and fraticide. The CDA is nearly without leadership. The former PM Balkenende has left after the halving of the vote for the CDA. Balkenende's deputy and replacement Camiel Eurling conveniently left politics just before the elections. The old guard of the party is plotting in the shades to sabotage co-operation with the PVV.
Any resolution to these problems is going to be short-lived
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