Politics and Elections in the Netherlands: November 22 snap election, Rutte to leave

[Cassius]

Given the extreme crowding on the ‘anti-government right’ segment of the Dutch political scene, what exactly is the remaining base of the PVV (in the polls for the next election I see that they’re still expected to get into the teens seats wise)?

[Cassius]

Hoist by their own commissioner as it were.

[Cassius]

The proposed ban on alcohol sales after 10 is a carbon copy of the present law in Scotland. Clearly K(i/e)rk’s of a feather flock together.

[Cassius]

Best visualization of the Peil poll: green is scenario with Omtzigt party, red is scenario without Omtzigt party. Looks like the VVD pulling the plug on the government has actually helped them and Rutte stepping aside for Yesilgöz too, very interesting. BBB are losing to VVD and PVV.

Why do Omtzigt and BBB win so many more seats if they both run (at this stage) than BBB if it runs alone? Is the latter perceived as being too right-wing whereas Omtzigt appeals across the spectrum?

[Cassius]

Isn’t D66 kind of a “blue labour” social Democratic Party? My understanding is that party was first created by people on the right of PVDA in the 1960s

The founders of D66 came from the left-wing of the VVD (Hans van Mierlo and Hans Gruijters) - I think you may be confusing them with DS’70, a group of PvdA traditionalists led by Willem Drees Jr (son of the PvdA PM of the same name) who split from the main party due to their dissatisfaction with its leftward drift.

[Cassius]

I look forward to the Guardian pronouncing a progressive triumph when GL-PvDA come first in a crowded field with 27 seats and 17% of the vote.

[Cassius]

Curious to see what happens to the CDA after the election - from what I can tell Bontenbal and the party’s present platform are vaguely leftish (with emphasis on the ‘ish’). Could there be a link up with the CU at some point to avoid total irrelevance?