''Political renewal''
Hans van Gink, YellowTimes.org - 25.10.2002 02:53
(YellowTimes.org) – The Dutch 2002 general elections were to see some political renewal. Over the years the public had become more and more dissatisfied with the current political climate. They were ...
"Political renewal"
Printed on Thursday, October 24, 2002 @ 19:06:44 EDT
By Hans van Gink
YellowTimes.org Guest Columnist (Netherlands)
(YellowTimes.org) – The Dutch 2002 general elections were to see some political renewal. Over the years the public had become more and more dissatisfied with the current political climate. They were tired of the "regent's rule" and sick of "backroom politics." A change was due.
This change presented itself in the face of right-wing populism. Pim Fortuyn, king of this movement, pointed his finger at a government that had become complacent, taking the voter's support for granted. He was going to address the issues that needled the generally prosperous Dutch populace: immigration.
Running on an anti-immigration (not anti-immigrant) platform, Pim Fortuyn did not pull punches. Debates were lively, controversial, and even fun. In his book, he described the "ruins of eight years" of the sitting Cabinet. When one of his statements questioned the very basis of the Dutch Constitution his party ousted him. It didn't faze Fortuyn. He started his own party, Lijst Pim Fortuyn (LPF), and became even more popular and more flamboyant; he would settle for nothing less than becoming the next Prime Minister. Polls indicated he stood a decent chance of realizing his goal.
Now that was some political renewal! Politics had become interesting! Now it was not a question of which of the fifteen or so "old" parties you were going to vote for, but of whether or not you were going to vote for Pim. Wouldn't it be just great to have an outspoken homosexual for a Prime Minister? Imagine George W. Bush's face on the next state visit!
On Monday, 6 May 2002, nine days before general elections, the despicable murder of Pim Fortuyn shocked the nation.
The last time a Dutch political figure had been murdered was in 1586. No, you read that right: four hundred and sixteen years ago. We had no frame of reference. We had a lot of anger though. Fingers were pointed, but for wholly different reasons now. Politics turned nasty.
Pim's party decided to carry on Pim's quest for political renewal, as "he would have it wanted it this way." It was the first time that sentence was used, but it wouldn't be the last time.
The election results rocked the political equilibrium. Everyone agreed that without Pim these kinds of changes would not have occurred. The two sitting coalition partners, with an 83 majority out of 150 government seats, were reduced to 47 seats. Both their election front men resigned within hours. Christian Democrats, who had been pushed aside eight years ago, rose to an unexpected 43 seats. Lijst Pim Fortuyn, a party not even six months old, entered the government with 26 seats: unheard of.
Now it was time to form a majority coalition and a Cabinet. Although a fanciful idea of a "winner's coalition" was proposed (this would have included radical Socialists, who had risen to 9 seats from 5) the smart money was on a coalition of ChristianDemocrats, LPF and right-wing Liberals. When it was confirmed that this coalition would indeed form the Cabinet both the supporters and opponents of Pim Fortuyn were eager to see what the political renewal would entail.
But what knowledgeable opponents of Pim Fortuyn had predicted soon became true. Because LPF did not consist of a truly politically motivated following, their incoherence and inexperience with The Hague became their bane. Already during Cabinet formation two LPF administrators were asked to leave.
Nine hours after the presentation of the new Cabinet on 22 July, LPF state secretary Philomena Bijlhout (emancipation and family affairs) resigned from her position. She had lied about past connections with Suriname's Bouterse regime.
It didn't stop there. It really became hectic. Virtually every day LPF had a crisis, an internal argument, a power struggle, or a power change. The country that brought you Big Brother now brought you Big Cabinet. The Dutch government had become day-to-day reality TV.
LPF policy makers posed ridiculous ideas. They didn't even shy away from unconstitutional ones. "They are floating some ideas, are still inexperienced," said Prime Minster Jan-Peter Balkenende, at 46 the youngest Dutch prime minister ever.
I'm a regular morning-time swimmer and I think I can speak for all fellow swimmers when I say we don't like floaters.
Was this the political renewal that had been planned?
In the second week of October the bubble burst. The personal conflict between the Vice Prime Minister of Public Health, Eduard Bomhoff, and the Minister of Economic Affairs, Herman Heinsbroek, threatened the coalition. Both were asked to resign. Both did so: Bomhoff with dignity, Heinsbroek as a sulking child. But it was already too late.
Right wing Liberals, undoubtedly at ease with the knowledge that according to the latest polls LPF is not needed for a coalition any more, say they no longer have faith in a working Cabinet of which LPF is a part. Christian Democrats concur, and it's a done deal. After 87 days, yet another record, the Prime Minister offered his resignation to the Queen. She had seen her husband to his final resting place the day before.
Was this how Pim would have wanted it?
But the blame is not LPF's alone. LPF begged to try to mend the Cabinet. Every single one of the other political parties voted against it. Of course the 22 government seats that the polls said would be up for grabs had nothing to do with it. That's old-style politics and all parties had said Pim had opened their eyes, that they'd mend their ways.
So the next elections are scheduled for 22 January 2003. Currying the voters' favor has begun. Statements are made. Promises. Two thousand years ago, roosters would have crowed incessantly.
Christian Democrats, at ease as the largest political party, say they will enter elections on the current Strategic Government Accord. They are seeking a coalition with right-wing Liberals. But a coalition with Social Democrats has not been ruled out. Right-wing Liberals say the chances of a coalition with Social Democrats (which they had from 1994 through 2002) are "zero." The Social Democrats' chairwoman, until then not interested in leading the party, is now candidate for that position. She thinks she can increase the current 23 government seats to at least 30. She will not say "no" to becoming Prime Minister, should it be in the cards.
For now, LPF has fragmented into three parties; all of them claim to have the majority of the "old" LPF vote.
Political renewal?
I'm still waiting. Hans van Gink encourages your comments:  hvgink@email.com
[Hans van Gink is Dutch, and not Belgian, by a margin of four miles. He does not wear clogs, does not smoke pot, nor does he grow tulips. He does like cheese a lot, rides a bicycle, and knows stuff about windmills. He does not wear a tie.]
Hans van Gink encourages your comments: hvgink@email.com
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