The lesser of all evils

Centre-right? Centre-left? All left? Or ‘Christian-social’?

Last night the results of the Dutch elections came in. However, this does not mean that the new government can start today…

Most likely, the new government will be a coalition of losers. The biggest party, the Christian Democrats of the present Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, or Harry Potter, lost three seats. The second party, the Social Democrats, lost 10 seats and the former third party, the Liberals, lost 6 seats. Negotiations for the coalition will start tomorrow…

Harry Potter

Both the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats have made a move to the centre the last years. It is therefore striking that their smaller and more radical versions came out of this election as winners.
The Christian Union is more conservative in ethical issues such as euthanasia, but is much more social than the CD. Balkenende, who has been trying to win the sympathy of George W. Bush, seems to have lost sight of Christian values of brother love in the 'war against terrorism'. The CU won the seats the CD lost.
Traditional voters of the SD have abandoned this party in favour of the Socialist Party of Jan Marijnissen, nicknamed ‘the wizard of Oss’ after his hometown. One group that did this by large is the Turkish community, that was not grateful when SD leader Wouter Bos fired a Turkish employer because he refused to acknowledge the Armenian genocide of 1915. The SP experienced a historical victory from 9 to 26 seats in Parliament.

Another winner is Geert Wilders, who rose from 1 to 9 seats. This means that over 600,000 people voted for “more courtesy, lower taxation and less Islam”.

Am I happy with these results? I guess I am, in a way.

Although I am not a Christian Democrat, I believe that between Bos and Balkenende the latter would make a better Prime Minister. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean a good Prime Minister. A man that kisses Bush’s ass, supports the war in Iraq and, as the only EU leader, called the process against Saddam fair and the death penalty ‘fitting’ would never have my sympathy. But at least he is consistent. Bos lost his credibility completely and I don’t think he deserved to win.

Although many people seem to think Wilders is a clever man and by voting for him spread more hate and division in the Netherlands, I was relieved to see that many, many more people have some common sense and see that a social policy would be in the best interest of everyone.

Although I would like to see the SP in government as a result, unfortunately the votes are not that easy to translate in a coalition. To listen to the votes would mean to include the winners in government, but this is easier said than done.

I was glad to hear that Marijnissen refuses to work together with the CD, even though this means the SP is doomed to serve another 4 years in opposition. In theory the biggest party does not have to be included in the coalition, but it would be a bit undemocratic not to do so. I was also glad to hear non of the parties want to work with Wilders and his ‘Party of Freedom’. Remains the CU, and a coalition between the CU, the CD and the SD is the best possibility at this moment. And this might not even be that bad. The CU is too small and the liberal laws of for example euthanasia, gay marriage and drugs to settled for the CU to make a difference in these issues, but the small party could put some social pressure on the two big centre parties.

So, although I would never vote for any of these parties and although this is not at all an ideal government, considering the possibilities, the present tensions in the Netherlands and the rise of extreme right, this is by far the lesser of all evils.