Prominent members of the political party the PvdA say that the party’s leader Wouter Bos is making a terrible mistake by focusing too much on the CDA. Margreeth de Boer and Joop van den Berg say that Wouter Bos assumed early on already that the elections will result in a PvdA – CDA coalition and that as such, the CDA being led by Prime-Ministed Jan Peter Balkenende, would adopt a ‘compromizing’ attitude, or at least a non-aggressive one.
However, the CDA and the VVD are campaigning in a for the Dutch at least, highly aggressive manner. The PvdA, especially Bos himself, complains that the CDA and VVD are not debating the issues, but instead limiting themselves to attacking Bos (Bos said that they “are trying to destroy [him]”).
Which is true.
All I have to say is: welcome to the big leagues Wouter. During the ‘gemeenteraadsverkiezingen’ (something like counties I believe), also organized this year, he had just about no opposition. This time; it is different. The CDA and VVD are not letting Wouter Bos dominate the political landscape / the campaign as he did in February and March of this year.
High ranking members of the VVD said – in essence – the same: stop complaining, this is politics.
P.S.
For those who are wondering about the title (and image) of this post: the sign of the PvdA is a red rose.
P.P.S.
Seemingly there is some confusion about the parties mentioned in this post, although I explained it several times already, I will explain it again:
Our three largest parties are the VVD, PvdA and CDA. The VVD and CDA currently form our government coalition. The VVD is our ‘liberal’ party. Note: not American liberal, but ‘European liberal’. There are differences. What you all call ‘liberals’ share more similarities with our labor party (that is the PvdA) than with our ‘liberal conservative party’, the VVD.
From left to right:
SP Groenlinks PvdA D66 [center] CDA VVD LPF Wilders Lijst1
I am VVD. The CDA currently has 44 of the 150 seats in Parliament. The PvdA has 42. This year’s race is – again – between the CDA and PvdA. If the CDA wins it will most likely try to form a coalition – again – with the VVD -> if that makes up for a total of 76 seats at least. The PvdA wants to form a coalition with the CDA.
A CDA – VVD coalition is a center right one.
A PvdA – CDA coalition is left of center.
The last option, obviously, worries me.
P.P.S.
Indeed, I am not objective about this.
PAST CONTRIBUTOR.