OMFG thats awesome.

Didn't realise PVV was polling that well, thought they were around the 10% mark

What's the level of euroscepticism like?

Euroscepticism has lowered a bit in focus, Covid measures are leading the current debates, along with the 'toeslagenaffaire' ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_childcare_benefits_scandal ). After that comes the major housing shortage (we need 1m extra homes before 2030, buying a house is becoming impossible for starters).

PVV got some quite a few of FVD votes, whom got scandalized for antisemitism.

You'd probably like that more than euroscepticism not being that important atm. With the British financial sector moving to Amsterdam, there are more important issues to solve.

None of these parties seem like they would represent me. I guess VVD by default.

I would also go VVD, just for Virgil Van Dijk alone

Awesome thread, thank you!

Some questions:

- How much is your country split over covid restrictions? The Rutte government seems to take a quite restrictive and cautious approach, which lead to a short-lived eruption of violence and discontent a month ago. It seems as if covid as an issue has generally helped the government, like it did in most european countries, rally-around-the-flag-effect and such. But I wonder if might polarize the electorate and also help anti-establishment parties like the PVV.
- Which ideological bent will the next government have? Will it continue to be a centrist-to-center-right government, or might it skew more to the left? Is there any chance for a coalition without the VVD to get to a majority?

This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Mar 5 2021 06:06pm

-Covid restrictions has split the country somewhat, but only a minority is vehemently anti-Covid measures. Most of these people vote FvD. Baudet has fully embraced the Trump-style denial (calling it a flu) and his partner in crime Wybren van Haga is steadily pumping out misinformation in his speaking time in parliament. PVV is critical of the government (and the anti-Covid measures), but is not denying the existence of a pandemic. They have been calling for more money for healthcare for a long time, so that's their ammunition to pelt the VVD with right now.

Chances of left-wing parties in government are slim. The VVD has come out and said that they want to implement some more social policies (higher minimum wage, stuff to do with the housing market), but that's because they kinda have no choice. Real wages have stagnated for a long time, and the marginal tax rates for our middle class are insane. Due to benefits and subsidies decreasing with increasing income, sometimes the marginal tax rate becomes higher than 100%. Which also neatly explains why so many people work part-time here. Instead of working the same hours with a promotion, people just work 4 days for more money, as the increase in income will only pay out by ~20% if you're lucky.

It's very likely that the core of the next coalition will stay the same (VVD+CDA+D66). FvD and PVV have been excluded by most parties prior to election. GL and SP have said they will only form a government if it is majority left-leaning. This leaves CU and PvdA. PvdA will only do it if the VVD makes some major concessions. There could also be heavy clashes with CDA, as both PvdA and D66 are heavy pro-green but the CDA wants very little of those policies, to protect farmers (Our nitrogen emissions have to go down, which is achieved easiest by halving our livestock supply, which also frees up space for housing).





VVD would definitely be your party of choice, their level of pragmatism is pretty high.

I see. So, basically, the chance for any substantial change is low, isnt it? Seems as if covid has kind of locked in the status quo from 2017 and erased the changes to the political landscape which took place over the past 4 years, particularly the rise of GL and FvD.

This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Mar 6 2021 02:59am

Great thread, OP! I think you did a good job describing the parties objectively.

Greetings from your superior southern neighbor.