I don't know much about Dutch politics but is there a general Left/Urban - Right/Rural split or are things a little more complicated than that?
More or less, yes. Cities vote more left wing than the surrounding country side, although in suburbia the right wing VVD is also quite popular. Some exceptions exist. In the rural north east (Groningen, Drenthe, Friesland) people tend to vote left. PvdA is strong in these areas. In the Catholic south, CDA still scores higher than usual.
In general political parties in the Netherlands can be divided in three groups: Left (PvdA/GroenLinks/SP), Liberal (usually right wing): VVD, LPF, D66 (quite left though) and Christian (centrist): CDA, ChristenUnie and SGP.
Due to secularisation CDA has lost quite some ground to VVD the last 50 years and some to PvdA. However, PvdA has lost some to VVD as well. PvdA is also more centrist than it used to be in the 80s. Just like the British Labour Party.
It depends on the affiliation, but usually not that much anymore.
Voters without religious affiliation usually have some antipathy towards CDA. The huge wins of CDA in the 80s were caused by the popularity of prime minister Lubbers, the wins of 2002-3 were caused by the collapse of PvdA and VVD and later LPF.
ChristenUnie and SGP voters are Calvinists. Their policies are not unlike the US Christian Coalition. Their voters are extremely loyal towards the parties.
Most CDA voters are Christians, both Catholics and more liberal Calvinists. However, the CDA is greying, and CDA voters are not that faithful towards voting CDA anymore.
Muslims usually vote left wing. PvdA for example. CDA does have Hindu and Muslim MPs though.
Thanks
, I have a better understanding of Dutch politics now
Dave
