The Dutch Labour Party (PvdA/S&D) and GroenLinks (GL/Greens) will present a joint electoral list and programme for the national elections in November, the two parties announced on Monday after a referendum among party members showed overwhelming support for the idea.
The two parties announced that they would be consulting their members via referendum on whether to present a joint election programme and list roughly a week ago.
“[This result] gives hope because we need a new direction in the Netherlands,” PvdA leader Attje Kuiken told the press conference at which the announcement was made.
The country “yearns for […] a change for [old people], for the younger generation, for a clean future, for everyone who just wants to make ends meet […]”, Kuiken added.
“We have been told many times: it will never work. But this shows that change is possible if you just keep believing,” Jesse Klaver, the leader of GroenLinks, added.
An overwhelming majority of GL and PvdA members voted in favour of a joint electoral programme and list, exceeding the party leaders’ expectations with 91.8% and 87.9%, respectively – total turnout for the referendum clocked in at roughly 60%.
The two parties had started ramping up their parliamentary cooperation in 2021 after both landed in the opposition camp following the formation of the last Dutch cabinet, which fell due to insurmountable differences regarding a tougher stance on migration two weeks ago.
Back in May, an attempt to present a joint election programme for the European elections next year had fizzled out, mainly because both parties belong to different factions within the EU Parliament. Even back then, the proposal of presenting a joint programme was met with overwhelming support from members of both parties.
Both parties will aim to agree on a joint lead candidate later this week – an issue some analysts perceive as a possible bone of contention. Among those rumoured to assume the position is current EU climate chief Frans Timmermans, a long-time PvdA member.
(Benedikt Stöckl | EURACTIV.com)