This article lists political parties in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which any one party has little chance of gaining power alone, and parties often work with each other to form coalition governments.
Contents |
Parties
Parliamentary parties
Parties with representation in the Senate, House of Representatives or European Parliament, as of October 2007:
| Name (English) |
Name (Dutch) |
Abbr. | Political Leader | International Affliation | Votes (2006) | House of Rep. seats |
Senate seats |
European Parliament seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Democratic Appeal | Christen-Democratisch Appèl | CDA | Jan Peter Balkenende* | Centrist Democrat International | 2,608,573 | 41 | 21 | 5 |
| Labour Party | Partij van de Arbeid | PvdA | Wouter Bos* | Socialist International | 2,085,077 | 33 | 14 | 3 |
| Socialist Party | Socialistische Partij | SP | Agnes Kant | UEL/NGL | 1,630,803 | 25 | 11 | 2 |
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie | VVD | Mark Rutte | Liberal International | 1,443,312 | 21 | 14 | 3 |
| Party for Freedom | Partij voor de Vrijheid | PVV | Geert Wilders | none | 579,490 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| GreenLeft | GroenLinks | GL | Femke Halsema | Global Greens | 453,054 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| ChristianUnion | ChristenUnie | CU | André Rouvoet* | European Christian Political Movement | 390,969 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Democrats 66 | Democraten 66 | D66 | Alexander Pechtold | Liberal International | 193,232 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Party for Animals | Partij voor de Dieren | PvdD | Marianne Thieme | none | 179,988 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Reformed Political Party | Staatskundig Gereformeerde Partij | SGP | Bas van der Vlies | ID | 153,266 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Independents Senate Fraction | Onafhankelijke Senaatsfractie | OSF | Hendrik ten Hoeven* | none | did not compete | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 9,654,475 | 150 | 75 | 25 | ||||
*: These political leaders are not President of the parliamentary parties in the House of Representatives.
The Christen-Democratisch Appèl is a centre-right Christian Democratic party. It supports free enterprise and holds to the principle that government activity should supplement but not supplant communal action by citizens. On the political spectrum, the CDA sees its philosophy as standing between the "individualism" of the VVD and the "statism" of the Labour Party. The CDA favours European economic, cultural and political integration. The party is led by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. The CDA is a member of the Centrist Democrat International.
The Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA, Labour Party), a European social democratic party, is left of center. Its program is based on greater social, political, and economic equality for all citizens. Former PvdA-prime minister Joop den Uyl has called it an "equal distribution of knowledge, income and power." In recent years the PvdA has espoused a third way-program. The PvdA is generally supportive of European integration. Although called the Labour Party, it has no formal links to the trade unions. In practice, however, strong links exist, with PvdA politicians often beginning their careers in the FNV labour union. The party is led by Wouter Bos. The PvdA is a member of the Socialist International.
The Socialistische Partij (SP) is a left-wing party. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was a People's Republic of China-supported Maoist party, but in 1991 the SP dropped its communist course, and chose a more independent and less radical socialist course, denouncing Maoism and the People's Republic of China. The party itself has called it a move "from socialism to a social ism." The party opposes what it sees as the European Superstate. The SP operates as an independent party within the European United Left–Nordic Green Left in the European Parliament. Agnes Kant is the leader of the SP.
The Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD) is a conservative liberal party. It thus attaches great importance to private enterprise and the freedom of the individual in political, social, and economic affairs. The party is generally supportive of European economic integration, but is less supportive of political integration. The VVD is generally seen as the most right wing of the major parties, though the Pim Fortuyn List took a position to the right of the VVD. Mark Rutte leads the VVD. The VVD is a member of the Liberal International.
The Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) is a right-wing populist party. It was erected by Geert Wilders, who split from the VVD in 2004. The PVV opposes the European Islamization and seeks to limit taxation. It is Eurosceptic and seeks to limit immigration.
GroenLinks combines, as the name (which translates to GreenLeft) says, a Green, environmentalist with a left-wing ideals. It operates to the left of the PvdA. The party was founded in 1989 as a merger of a left-radical, a pacifist, a communist and a leftwing Christian party. In 2004, the party leader Femke Halsema announced she saw her own party as a leftwing liberal party, possibly breaking with its socialist roots. Like D66, it is a multiculturalist party. GroenLinks is in favour of European integration, but opposes the current policies of the European Union. GroenLinks is a member of the Global Greens.
The ChristenUnie is a Christian party, which mostly concentrates on ethical issues, such as a resistance against abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage. In other areas (e.g. immigration and the environment), the party often is closer to the left-wing parties. It is sceptic about European integration. The CU operates within the Independence and Democracy group within the European Parliament and is a founding member of the European Christian Political Movement. André Rouvoet leads the party.
Democraten 66 (D66) has had widely fluctuating electoral fortunes since the party's founding in 1966. It is a centrist left-liberal and radical democratic party, generally portrayed as between the VVD and GroenLinks, with its strongest support among young, urban, professional voters. It professes a pro-European platform of ethnic and religious tolerance. Alexander Pechtold leads the party. D66 is a member of the Liberal International.
Partij voor de Dieren (PvdD) is a single-issue animal rights party. It is led by Marianne Thieme.
The Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP) is a very conservative Christian party, with even stronger ethical points of view than the ChristenUnie. Although a very small party on a national level, it is an important political power in some orthodox reformed municipalities. The party sees governments (local, regional, national and international) as unconditional servants of God. The party bases all of its views directly on the Bible. The party opposes European integration and operates within the Independence and Democracy group. Bas van der Vlies leads the SGP.
Trots op Nederland is the proposed political movement associated with independent parliamentarian and former government minister Rita Verdonk.
Solidara formed as a one-person party in the Senate by Düzgün Yildirim on October 2, 2007. He was formerly a member of the Socialist Party.
Other national parties
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- The Greens (De Groenen)
- Libertarian Party (Libertarische Partij)
- PNVD - Party for Neighborly Love, Freedom and Diversity (Partij voor Naastenliefde, Vrijheid en Diversiteit)
- Progressive Integration Party (Vooruitstrevende Integratie Partij)
- Mobile Netherlands (NLMobiel - Nederland Mobiel)
- Muslim Democratic Party (MDP - Moslim Democratische Partij)
- New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN - Nieuwe Communistische Partij Nederland)
- Nieuwe Midden Partij (NMP) - New Middle Party
- Verenigde Senioren Partij (VSP) - United Senior Party
Regional parties
- Brabant Party (Brabantse Partij), active in North Brabant.
- Frisian National Party (FNP - Fryske Nasjonale Partij), active in Friesland.
- New Limburg Party (PNL - Partij Nieuw Limburg), active in Limburg.
Defunct parties
- Algemeen Ouderen Verbond (AOV) - General Elderly Alliance
- Algemeene Bond van RK-kiesverenigingen - General League of Roman-Catholic Caucuses (transformed in to the RKSP)
- Algemeene Nederlandsche Fascisten Bond - General Dutch Fascist League
- Anti-Revolutionaire Partij (ARP) - Anti-Revolutionary Party (merged into Christen-Democratisch Appèl)
- Arbeiderspartij van Nederland (opbouworganisatie) (APN(o)) - Workers Party of the Netherlands (build-up organisation) (disbanded)
- Boerenpartij (BP) - Farmers' Party (disbanded)
- Bond Christen Socialisten (BCS) - League of Christian Socialists
- Bond van Nederlandse Marxisten-Leninisten (BNML) - League of Dutch Marxist-Leninists (merged into KAO(ml))
- Bond van Vrije Liberalen - Association of Free Liberals (merged into Liberale Staatspartij)
- Christen Democratische Partij - Christian Democratic Party
- Christelijk-Democratische Unie (CDU) - Christian-Democratic Union (merged into Partij van de Arbeid)
- Christelijk-Historische Unie (CHU) - Christian-Historical Union (merged into Christen-Democratisch Appèl)
- Christelijk Sociale Party (CSP) - Christelijk Sociale Partij
- Christelijk-Historische Kiezersbond (CHK) - Christian Historical Voters' League (merged into the Christian Historical Party)
- Christelijk-Historische Partij (CHP) - Christian Historical Party (merged into the Christian Historican Union)
- Communistische Partij Nederland (CPN) - Communist Party Netherlands (merged into GroenLinks, some members formed the NCPN)
- Kommunistische Arbeidersorganisatie (marxistisch-leninistisch) (KAO(ml) - Communist Workers Organisation (marxist-leninist) (dissolved around 1980)
- Kommunistische Eenheidsbeweging Nederland (marxistisch-leninistisch) (KEN(ml)) - Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (dissolved in mid-1980s)
- Democratisch Socialisten '70 (DS'70) - Democratic Socialists '70
- Economische Bond (EB) - Economic League
- Europa Transparant (ET) - Europe Transparant
- Evangelische Volkspartij (EVP) - Evangelical Peoples Party (merged into GroenLinks)
- Friesche Bond - Frisian League (merged into the Christian Historical Union)
- Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond (GPV) - Reformed Political Union (merged into ChristenUnie)
- Hervormd Gereformeerde Staatspartij (dissolved in 1946)
- Independent Socialist Party (OSP)
- Liberale Staatspartij (LSP) - Liberal State Party (merged into Partij van de Vrijheid)
- Liberale Partij - Liberal Party (merged into the Vaderlandsch Verbond)
- Liberale Unie - Liberal Union (merged into Liberale Staatspartij)
- Lijst Pim Fortuyn (LPF) - Pim Fortuyn List (disbanded in 2007)
- Katholieke Nationale Partij (KNP) - Catholic National Party (merged into the KVP)
- Katholieke Volkspartij (KVP) - Catholic People's Party (merged into Christen-Democratisch Appèl)
- Marxistisch-Leninistische Partij Nederland (MLPN) - a fake party founded in 1970 by the Dutch Intelligence Service BVD and the CIA, to research support for Maoism and to fool the People's Republic of China.
- Middenpartij voor Stad en Land (MPSL) - Middle Party for City and Country
- Middenstandspartij (MP) - Middle Class Party
- Nationaal-Socialistische Nederlandsche Arbeiderspartij - National Socialist Dutch Workers Party
- Nederlands Blok - Dutch Block
- Neutrale Partij - Neutral Party
- Pacifistisch-Socialistische Partij (PSP) - Pacifist-Socialist Party (merged into GroenLinks)
- Partij van de Vrijheid (PvdV) - Freedom Party (became Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie)
- Plattelandersbond - Peasants' League
- Politieke Partij Radicalen (PPR) - Political Party of Radicals (merged into GroenLinks)
- Radicale Bond (RB) - Radical League (merged into VDB)
- Reformatorische Politieke Federatie (RPF) - Reforming Political Federation (merged into ChristenUnie)
- Roomsch-Katholieke Staatspartij (RKSP) - Roman Catholic Political Party (predecessor of KVP)
- Sociaal-Democratische Arbeiders Partij (SDAP) - Social Democratic Workers Party (merged into Partij van de Arbeid)
- Sociaal-Democratische Bond - Social Democratic League merged into the SDAP
- Socialistische Party - Socialist Party active before the Second World War (not to be confused with the current Socialist Party).
- Solidair '93 - Appears not to have contested elections after 1998.
- Verbond tot Democratisering der Weermacht - Alliance for the Democratization of the Army
- Verbond voor Nationaal Herstel - Alliance for National Reconstruction
- Vrijzinnig Democratische Bond (VDB) - Freethinking Democratic League (merged into Partij van de Arbeid)
- Vrij Antirevolutionaire Partij - Free Anti Revolutionary Party (merged in to Christian Historical Party)
- Verbond van Communisten In Nederland (VCN)- League of Communists in the Netherlands (split from the Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN) in 1983 and merged with the remains of the CPN in 1992 to form the NCPN)
- Party for Justice, Action and Progress (Partij voor Rechtvaardigheid, Daadkracht en Vooruitgang)
- Alliance for Renewal and Democracy (Alliantie voor Vernieuwing en Democratie)
- The Conservatives - de Conservatieven.nl
- Sustainable Netherlands (Duurzaam Nederland)
- Veldhoen List (Lijst Veldhoen)
- Ratelband List - LijstRatelband.nl
- Party of the Future (Partij van de Toekomst)
- O O The Hague (O O Den Haag), was initially registered for 2003 elections but withdrew.
- Arabic-European League (Arabisch-Europese Liga, AEL), initially founded in Belgium, active in the Netherlands between 2003-2005, now MDP
- Moslim Party (De Moslimpartij, founded in 1993)
- Islamic Party Netherlands (Islamitische Partij Nederland, founded in 1998)
- Liveable Netherlands (LN - Leefbaar Nederland)
- Unie 55+ - General Senior Union/Union 55+
- Centrum Democraten (CD) - Central Democrats
- Centrumpartij (CP) - Centrum Party (later Centrumpartij '86)
- Nederlands Blok (NB) - Dutch Block
- Nieuwe Nationale Partij (NNP) - New National Party
- Nationale Alliantie (NA) - National Alliance
- Senioren 2000 - Seniors 2000
See also
- Index of political parties to browse parties by name
- List of political parties to browse parties by country
- List of political parties by ideology to browse parties by name
- Membership of internationals to browse parties by membership of internationals
- Liberalism in the Netherlands
- Socialism in the Netherlands
- Christian democracy in the Netherlands
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