GroenLinks(Dutch pronunciation:[ɣrunˈlɪŋks],lit. 'GreenLeft') is agreen[4]political partyin theNetherlands.
GroenLinks GroenLinks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | GL |
| Leader | Jesse Klaver(list) |
| Chair | Katinka Eikelenboom[1] |
| Leader in theSenate | Paul Rosenmöller(GL–PvdA) |
| Leader in theHouse of Representatives | Frans Timmermans(GL–PvdA) |
| Leader in theEuropean Parliament | Bas Eickhout |
| Founded | 24 November 1990(as a party) |
| Merger of | Rainbow:PSP,CPN,PPRandEVP[2] |
| Headquarters | Partijbureau GroenLinks Sint Jacobsstraat 12,Utrecht |
| Think tank | Bureau de Helling |
| Youth wing | DWARS |
| Membership(January 2024) |  40,621[3] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-left[7]toleft-wing[8][5] |
| National affiliation | GroenLinks–PvdA |
| Regional affiliation | Socialists, Greens and Democrats |
| European affiliation | European Green Party |
| European Parliament group | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| International affiliation | Global Greens |
| Colours | Green Red |
| Provincial councils | 49 / 570 |
| European Parliament | 4 / 31 |
| King's Commissioners | 0 / 12 |
| Benelux Parliament | 2 / 21 |
| Website | |
| groenlinks | |
It was formed on 1 March 1989 from the merger of fourleft-wingparties: theCommunist Party of the Netherlands,thePacifist Socialist Party,thePolitical Party of Radicalsand theEvangelical People's Party,which shared left-wing and progressive ideals and had previously co-operated in theRainbowcoalition for the1989 European Parliament election.After disappointing results in the1989and1994 general elections,the nascent party fared particularly well in the1998and2002 electionsunder the leadership ofPaul Rosenmöller,who came to be seen as the unofficialLeader of the Oppositionagainst thefirst Kok cabinet,apurple government.The party's number of seats fell from 10 to 4 seats in the2012 election,before increasing to 14 in2017and falling back to 8 in2021.
After the 2021 general election, the party intensified cooperation with theLabour Party(PvdA) in an alliance calledGroenLinks–PvdA.The two parties participated in the2023 general electionwith a joint candidate list, and currently have a joint parliamentary group of 25 seats.
Despite the fact that the two participate separately participate in a European Political Group, Groenlinks as a member ofGreens–European Free Allianceand PvdA as a member of theParty of European Socialists,the parties campaigned together as GroenLinks-PvdA for the2024 European Parliament election.
GroenLinks describes itself as "green","social"and"tolerant".[9]The party's voters are concentrated in larger cities, particularly incollege towns.
History
editBefore 1989: predecessors
editGroenLinks was founded in 1989 as a merger of four parties that were to theleftof theLabour Party(PvdA), asocial-democraticparty which has traditionally been the largestcentre-leftparty in the Netherlands. The founding parties were the (formerly-communist)Communist Party of the Netherlands(CPN), thePacifist Socialist Party(PSP), which originated in thepeace movement,thegreen-influencedPolitical Party of Radicals(PPR), originally a progressive Christian party, and theprogressive ChristianEvangelical People's Party.[10]These four parties were frequently classified as "small left"; to indicate their marginal existence. In the1972 general election,these parties won sixteen seats (out of 150); in the1977 general election,they only won six. From that moment on, members and voters began to argue for close cooperation.[11]
From the 1980s onwards, the four parties started to cooperate in municipal and provincial elections. As fewer seats are available in these representations, a higher percentage of votes is required to gain a seat. In the1984 European election,the PPR, CPN and PSP formed theGreen Progressive Accordthat entered as one into theEuropean elections.They gained one seat, which rotated between the PSP and PPR. Party-members of the four parties also encountered each other ingrassrootsextraparliamentary protest againstnuclear energyandnuclear weapons.More than 80% of the members of the PSP, CPN and PPR attended at least one of the twomass protests against the placement of nuclear weapons,which took place in 1981 and 1983.[12]
TheEvangelical People's Partywas a relatively new party, founded in 1981, as a splinter group from theChristian Democratic Appeal,the largest party of the Dutchcentre-right.During its period in parliament, 1982–1986, it had trouble positioning itself between the small left parties (PSP, PPR and CPN), the PvdA and the CDA.[12]
The increasingly close cooperation between PPR, PSP, CPN and EVP, and the ideological change that accompanied it was not without internal dissent within the parties. The ideological change that CPN made fromofficial communismto 'reformism' led to a split in the CPN; and the subsequent founding of theLeague of Communists in the Netherlandsin 1982. In 1983, a group of "deep" Greens split from the PPR to foundThe Greens.The CPN and the PPR wanted to form anelectoral alliancewith the PSP for the 1986 elections. This led to a crisis within the PSP, in whichchair of the parliamentary party(Fractievoorzitter)Fred van der Spek,who opposed cooperation, was replaced byAndrée van Es,who favoured cooperation. Van der Spek left the PSP to found his ownParty for Socialism and Disarmament.The 1986 PSPcongress,however, rejected the electoral alliance.
In the1986 general election,all four parties lost seats. The CPN and the EVP disappeared from parliament. The PPR was left with two and the PSP with one seat. While the parties were preparing to enter in the 1990 elections separately, the pressure to cooperate increased. In 1989, the PPR, CPN and PSP entered the1989 European Parliament electionwith a single list, called theRainbow.Joost LagendijkandLeo Platvoet,both PSP party board members, initiated an internal referendum in which the members of the PSP declared to support leftwing cooperation (70% in favour; 64% of all members voting). Their initiative for left-wing cooperation was supported by an open letter from influential members oftrade unions(such asPaul RosenmöllerandKarin Adelmund), ofenvironmental movements(e.g.,Jacqueline Cramer) and fromarts(such asRudi van Dantzig). This letter called for the formation of a singleprogressiveparty to the left of theLabour Party.Lagendijk and Platvoet had been taking part in informal meetings between prominent PSP, PPR and CPN-members, who favoured cooperation. Other participants were PPR chairmanBram van Ojikand former CPN leaderIna Brouwer.These talks were called "F.C. Sittardia" or Cliché bv.[12]
In the spring of 1989, the PSP party board initiated formal talks between the CPN, the PSP and the PPR about a common list for the upcoming general elections. It soon became clear that the CPN wanted to maintain an independent communist identity and not merge into a new left-wing formation. This was reason for the PPR leaving the talks. Negotiations about cooperation were reopened after the fall of thesecond Lubbers cabinetand the announcement that elections would be held in the autumn of that year. This time the EVP was included in the discussion. The PPR was represented for a short while by an informal delegation led by former chairWim de Boer,because the party board did not want to be seen re-entering the negotiations it had left only a short while earlier. In the summer of 1989, theparty congressesof all four parties accepted to enter the elections with a shared programme and list of candidates. Additionally, the association GroenLinks (Dutch:Vereniging GroenLinks;VGL) was set up to allow sympathisers, not member of any of the four parties to join. Meanwhile, theEuropean elections of 1989were held, in which the same group of parties had entered as a single list under the name "Rainbow".In practice, the merger of the parties had now happened and the party GroenLinks was officially founded on 24 November 1990.[11][12]
1989–1994: completion of the merge and first term in parliament
edit
In the1989 elections,the PPR, PSP, CPN and EVP entered in the elections with one single list called Groen Links. In the Netherlands, parties usually participate in the elections with one list for the whole country. The candidates on top of the list get the priority for the distribution of seats won. The GroenLinks list of candidates was organised in such a way that all the parties were represented and new figures could enter. The PPR, which had been the largest party in 1986 got the top candidate (thelead candidate,Ria Beckers) and the number five; the PSP got the numbers two and six, the CPN the number three and the EVP number eleven. The first independent candidate wasPaul Rosenmöller,trade unionist from Rotterdam, on the fourth place. In the elections, the party doubled its seats in comparison to 1986 (from three to six), but the expectations had been much higher.[12]In the 1990 municipal elections, the party fared much better, strengthening the resolve to cooperate.[11]
In the period 1989–1991, the merger developed further. A board was organised for the party-in-foundation and also a 'GroenLinks Council', which was supposed to control the board and the parliamentary party and stimulate the process of merger. In this council, all five groups – CPN, PPR, PSP, EVP and the Vereniging Groen Links – had seats on ratio of the number of their members. Originally, the three youth organisations, the CPN-linkedGeneral Dutch Youth League,the PSP-linkedPacifist Socialist Young Working Groupsand the PPR-linked Political Party of Radical Youth refused to merge, but under pressure of the government (who controlled their subsidies) they did merge to formDWARS.[13]In 1990, some opposition formed against the moderate, green course of GroenLinks. Several former PSP members united in the "Left Forum" in 1992 – they would leave the party to join former PSP-leader Van der Spek to found thePSP'92.Similarly, former members of the CPN joined theLeague of Communists in the Netherlandsto found theNew Communist Partyin the same year. In 1991, the congresses of the four founding parties (PSP, PPR, CPN and EVP) decided to officially abolish their parties.[12]
GroenLinks had considerable problems formulating its own ideology. In 1990, the attempt to write the first manifesto of principles failed because of the difference betweensocialistsandcommunistson the one side and the moreliberalformer PPR members on the other side.[13]The second manifesto of principles – which was not allowed to be called that – was adopted after a lengthy debate and many amendments in 1991.[13]
Although the party was internally divided, the GroenLinks parliamentary party was the only party in the Dutch parliament which opposed theGulf War.[13]A debate within the party about the role military intervention led to a more-nuanced standpoint than thepacifismof some of its predecessors: GroenLinks would supportpeacekeepingmissions as long as they were mandated by theUnited Nations.[13]
In the fall of 1990, MEP Verbeek announced that he would not, as he had promised, leave the European Parliament after two-and-a-half years to make room for a new candidate.[13]He would continue as an independent and remain in parliament until 1994. In the1994 European elections,he would run unsuccessfully as top candidate ofThe Greens.[14]
In 1992, party leaderRia Beckersleft theHouse of Representativesbecause she wanted more private time. Peter Lankhorst replaced her as chair ad interim, but he announced that he would not take part in the internal elections.[15]
1994–2002: opposition during the purple cabinets
edit
Before thegeneral election of 1994,GroenLinks organised an internal election on the party's political leadership. Two duos entered:Ina Brouwer(former CPN) combined withMohammed Rabbae(independent), whilePaul Rosenmöller(independent) formed a combination withLeoni Sipkes(former PSP); there were also five individual candidates, includingWim de Boer(former chair of the PPR and member of theSenate),Herman Meijer(former CPN, future chair of the party) andIneke van Gent(former PSP and future MP).[15]
Some candidates ran in duos because they wanted to combine family life with politics. Brouwer, Rosenmöller and Sipkes already were MPs for GroenLinks, whilst Rabbae was new – he had been chair of the Dutch Centre for Foreigners. In the first round, the duos ended up ahead of the others, but neither had anabsolute majority.A second round was needed, in which Brouwer and Rabbae won with 51%.[15]Brouwer became the first candidate and Rabbae second, the second duo Rosenmöller and Sipkes occupied the following place followed byMarijke Vos,former chair of the party. The idea of a duallead candidacydid not communicate well to the voters. GroenLinks lost one seat, leaving only five. Yet in the same election, the centre-left Labour Party also lost a lot of seats.[14]
After the disappointing elections, Brouwer left parliament. She was replaced as party leader byPaul Rosenmöllerand her seat was taken byTara Singh Varma.[14]The charismatic Rosenmöller became the "unofficial leader" of the opposition against thefirst Kok cabinetbecause the largest opposition party, theChristian Democratic Appeal,was unable to adapt well to its new role as opposition party.[11][16]Rosenmöller set out a new strategy: GroenLinks should offer alternatives instead of only rejecting the proposals made by the government.[17][18]
In the1998 general election,GroenLinks more than doubled its seats to eleven. The charisma of "unofficial leader" Rosenmöller played an important role in this.[18]Many new faces entered parliament, includingFemke Halsema,a political talent who had left the Labour Party for GroenLinks in 1997.[19] The party began to speculate openly about joining government after the elections of 2002.[20][21]
The 1999Kosovo Wardivided the party internally. The parliamentary party in the House of Representatives supported theNATOintervention, while the Senate parliamentary party was against the intervention. Several former PSP members within the House of Representatives parliamentary party began to openly speak out their doubts about the intervention. A compromise was found: GroenLinks would support the intervention as long as it limited itself to military targets. Prominent members of the founding parties includingMarcus BakkerandJoop Vogtleft the party over this issue.[22]
In February 2001,Roel van Duijnand a few former members ofThe Greensjoined GroenLinks.[23]
In 2001, the integrity of former MP Tara Singh Varma came into doubt: it was revealed that she had lied about her illness and that she had made promises todevelopment organisationswhich she did not fulfill. In 2000, she had left parliament because as she claimed, she had only a few months to live before she would die of cancer. TheTROSprogram "Opgelicht" (In English "Framed" ) revealed that she had lied and that she did not have cancer.[23]Later, she apologised on public television and claimed she suffered frompost-traumatic stress disorder.[24]
In the same year, the parliamentary party supported theinvasion of Afghanistanafter theterrorist attacks of September 11.This invasion led to great upheaval within the party. Several former PSP members within the House of Representatives parliamentary party began to openly speak out their doubts about the intervention. Under pressure of internal opposition, led by former PSP members and the party's youth organisationDWARS,the parliamentary party changed its position: the attacks should be cancelled.[23]
2002–present
editThe2002 general electionwas characterised by changes in the political climate. Theright-wing populistpolitical commentatorPim Fortuynentered into politics. He had an anti-establishment message, combined with a call for restrictions onimmigration.Although his critique was oriented at thesecond Kok cabinet,Rosenmöller was one of the few politicians who could muster some resistance against his message. Days before the election,Fortuyn was assassinated.Ab Harrewijn, GroenLinks MP and candidate also died.[25]Before and after the elections serious threats were made against Rosenmöller, his wife and his children. These events caused considerable stress for Rosenmöller.[26]GroenLinks lost one seat in the election, although it had gained more votes than in the 1998 elections. Before the2003 general electionRosenmöller left parliament, citing the ongoing threats against his life and those of his family as the main reason. He was replaced as chair of the parliamentary party and top candidate byFemke Halsema.She was unable to keep ten seats and lost two.[25]
In 2003, GroenLinks almost unanimously turned against theIraq War.It took part in theprotests against the war,for instance by organising itsparty congressin Amsterdam at the day of the large demonstration, with an interval allowing its members to join the protest.[25]
At the end of 2003, Halsema temporarily left parliament to give birth to hertwins.During her absenceMarijke Vostook her place as chair of the parliamentary party.[27]When she returned to parliament, Halsema started a discussion about theprinciples of her party.She emphasised individual freedom,tolerance,self-realisation andemancipation.In one interview she called her party "the last liberal party of the Netherlands"[28]This led to considerable attention of media and other observers, which speculated about an ideological change.[27]In 2005 the party's scientific bureau published the book "Vrijheid als Ideaal" ( "Freedom as Ideal" ) in which prominent opinion-makers explored the new political space and the position of the left within that space.[29]During the congress of February 2007 the party board was ordered to organise a party-wide discussion about the party's principles.[30]
During the European Elections congress of 2004, the candidacy committee proposed that the chair of the GroenLinks delegation,Joost Lagendijk,should become the party'slead candidatein those elections. A group of members, led by Senator Leo Platvoet submitted a motion "We want to choose". They wanted a serious choice for such an important office. The party's board announced a new electoral procedure. During the congressKathalijne Buitenweg,an MEP and candidate, announced wish to be considered for the position of top candidate. She narrowly won the elections from Lagendijk. This came as a great surprise to all. Especially for Buitenweg who had not written an acceptance speech and read out Lagendijk's.[27]
In May 2005, MPFarah Karimiwrote a book in which discussed in detail how she had taken part in theIranian Revolution,because this information was already known by the party board this did not lead to any upheaval.[31]In November 2005, the party board asked Senator Sam Pormes to give up his seat. Continuing rumours about his involvement with guerrilla-training inYemenin the 1970s and the 1977 train hijacking byMoluccanyouth and allegations ofwelfare fraudwere harmful for the party, or at least so the party board claimed.
When Pormes refused to step down, the party board threatened to expel him. Pormes fought this decision. The party council of March 2006 sided with Pormes. Party chair Herman Meijer felt forced to resign. He was succeeded by Henk Nijhof who was chosen by the party council in May 2006. In November 2006 Pormes left the Senate, he was replaced byGoos Minderman.[32]
In the2006 Dutch municipal election,the party stayed relatively stable, losing only a few seats. After the elections GroenLinks took part in 75 local executives, includingAmsterdamwhere MPMarijke Vosbecame an alderwoman.[32]
In preparation of the2006 general electionthe party held a congress in October. It elected Halsema, again the only candidate, as the party's top candidate. MEPKathalijne Buitenwegand comedian Vincent Bijlo werelast candidates.In the 2006 elections the party lost one seat.[32]
In the subsequentcabinet formation,an initial exploratory round among theChristian Democratic Appeal(CDA),Labour Party(PvdA) andSocialist Party(SP) failed, Halsema announced that GroenLinks would not be involved in further discussion at that point in time, as the party lost, was too small, and had less in common with CDA than the SP had.[32]Following this decision an internal debate about the political course and the leadership of Halsema re-erupted. The debate does not just concern the series of lost elections and the decision not to participate in the formation talks, but also the elitist image of the party, the newliberalcourse, initiated by Halsema, and the lack of party democracy. Since the last weeks of January 2007 several prominent party members have voiced their doubts including former leaderIna Brouwer,SenatorLeo Platvoetand MEPJoost Lagendijk.[30]In reaction to this the party board has set up a commission led by former MP and chair of the PPRBram van Ojik.They looked into the lost series of elections. In the summer of 2007 another committee was formed to organise a larger debate about the course of the party's principles, organisation and strategy. Van Ojik also led this committee. The committee implemented a motion already adopted by the party's congress in 2006 to re-evaluate the party's principle in light of the party's course started by Halsema in 2004.[32]Over the course of 2007 and 2008 the committee organised an internal debate about the party's principles, organisation and strategy. In November 2008 this led to the adoption of a new manifesto of principles.
In August 2008, GroenLinks parliamentarianWijnand Duyvendakpublished a book in which he admitted to a burglary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in order to steal plans for nuclear power plants. This led to his resignation on 14 August, after media reported that the burglary also led to threats againstcivil servants.[33][34]He was replaced byJolande Sap.[35]
In 2008, MEPsJoost LagendijkandKathalijne Buitenwegannounced that they would not seek a new term in the European Parliament. The party had to elect a newlead candidatefor the2009 European elections.There were five candidates for this position:Amsterdamcity councillorJudith Sargentini,former MEPAlexander de Roo,senatorTineke Strik,environmental researcherBas EickhoutandNiels van den Bergeassistant of MEP Buitenweg. In an internal referendum Sargentini was elected. Theparty congressput Eickhout on a second position on the list.
On 18 April 2010, the party congress composed the list of candidates for the2010 general election.Two sitting MPsIneke van GentandFemke Halsemawere granted dispensation to stand for a fourth term. Halsema was re-elected as party leader. Van Gent was put as fifth on the party list. All of the first five candidates were sitting MPs and four were women. Their other high newcomers were former Greenpeace directorLiesbeth van Tongerenand chairman ofCNVyouthJesse Klaver.The party won 10 seats in the election and participated in the formation talks of a Green/Purple government.Halsema resigned as party leader when these talks failed and was succeeded byJolande Sap.[36]
In the2012 general election,GroenLinks lost six seats and was left with four out of 150 seats. Following the disappointing result, Sap was forced to resign as party leader and was succeeded byBram van Ojik,who in turn handed his position toJesse Klaverin 2015. Under Klaver's leadership, GroenLinks gradually rose in polls before climbing to an all-time high of 14 seats in the2017 general election.The party enteredcoalition talkswith thePeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy,theChristian Democratic AppealandDemocrats 66,but the talks failed after Klaver demanded more refugees to be accepted.[37]
GroenLinks lost the2021 general election,and combined with theLabour Partyduring thesubsequent government formation.There have been discussions about a merger with that party; they participated in the2023 Dutch Senate electionas one.[38]GroenLinks and the Labour Party announced in 2023 that they would also participate as one,GroenLinks–PvdA,in thegeneral elections of 2023,as members of both parties voted in favour of an alliance.[39]
Ideology and issues
editIdeology
editThe party combines green and left-wing ideals.[16]The core ideals of GroenLinks are codified in the party's programme of principles (calledPartij voor de Toekomst,"Party for the Future" ).[40]The party places itself in the freedom-loving tradition of the left. Its principles include:
- The protection of theEarth,ecosystemsand arespectful treatment of animals.
- A fair distribution of natural resources between all citizens of the world and all generations.
- A just distribution of income and fair chance for everyone to work, care, education and recreation.
- A pluralist society where everyone can participate in freedom. The party combines openness with a sense of community.
- Strengthening the international rule of law, in order to ensure peace and respect forhuman rights.
The party's principles reflect the ideological convergence between the four founding parties which came from different ideological traditions: thePolitical Party of Radicalsand theEvangelical People's Party,from aprogressive Christiantradition; and thePacifist Socialist Partyand theCommunist Party of the Netherlandsfrom thesocialistandcommunisttraditions. Over the course of the 1970s and 1980s, the parties had come to embraceenvironmentalismandfeminism;they all favoured democratisation of society and had opposed the creation of newnuclear plantsand the placement of newnuclear weapons in the Netherlands.[11]
Halsema, the former political leader of the party, has started a debate about the ideological course of GroenLinks. She emphasised the freedom-loving tradition of the left and chose freedom as a key value. Her course is calledleft-liberalby herself and observers,[41]although Halsema herself claims that she does not want to force an ideological change.
FollowingIsaiah Berlin,Halsema distinguishes betweenpositiveandnegative freedom.[42]According to Halsema, negative freedom is the freedom of citizens from government influence; she applies this concept especially to themulticultural societyand therechtsstaat,where the government should protect the rights of citizens and not limit them. Positive freedom is theemancipationof citizens from poverty and discrimination. Halsema wants to apply this concept towelfare stateand the environment where government should take more action. According to Halsema, GroenLinks is anundogmaticparty.[42]
Proposals
editTheelection manifestofor the2010 electionswas adopted in April of that year. It was titledKlaar voor de Toekomst( "Prepared for the Future" ). The manifesto emphasises international cooperation, welfare state reform, environmental policy and social tolerance.[43]
GroenLinks considers itself a "social reformparty ", which aims to reform the government finances and increase the position of" outsiders "on the labour market, such as migrant youth, single parents, workers with short term-contracts and people with disabilities. It disagrees with the parties on the right which, in the eyes of GroenLinks, were only oriented towards cutting costs and did not offer the worst-off a chance for work, emancipation and participation.[44] But, unlike the other opposition parties of the left, the party does not want to defend the current welfare state – which the party calls "powerless", because it merely offers the worst-off a benefit rather than prospects for work.[44]The party wants to reform the Dutchwelfare stateso it will benefit "outsiders" – those who have been excluded from the welfare state until now.
To increase employment, the GroenLinks proposes a participation contract, where unemployment recipients sign an agreement with their local council to become involved in volunteer work, schooling, or work experience projects – for which they get paid minimum wage.[45] The unemployment benefit should be increased and limited to one year. In this period, people would have to look for a job or education. If at the end of the year one should not succeed in finding a job, the government will offer one a job for theminimum wage.In order to create more employment, they want to implement thegreen tax shiftwhich will lower taxes on lower paid labour. This would be compensated by higher taxes on pollution. In order to increase prospects for the underprivileged, it wants to invest in education, especially thevmbo(middle-level vocational education). In order to ensure that migrants have a better chance for jobs, it wants to deal firmly with discrimination, especially on thelabour market.The party wants to decrease income differences by makingchild benefits.[43]The party favours reform of governmentpensions:after 45 years of employment, one should get the right to a pension. If one starts working young, one is able to stop working earlier than if one starts working when one is older. Receiving unemployment or disability benefits is counted as work, as is caring for children or family members. The system of mortgage interest deductions should be abolished over a forty-year period.
International cooperation is an important theme for the party. This includesdevelopment cooperationwith underdeveloped countries. GroenLinks wants to increase spending ondevelopment aidto 0.8% of thegross national product.It wants to open the European markets to goods from Third World countries, under conditions offair trade.In order to ensure free and fair trade, it wants to increase and democratise international economic organisations such as theInternational Monetary Fundand theWorld Bank.The party also favours greater international control over financial markets. GroenLinks favoursEuropean integration,but is critical about the current policies of theEuropean Commission.It favoured theEuropean Constitution,but after it was voted down in the2005 referendum,GroenLinks advocated a new treaty which emphasiseddemocracyandsubsidiarity.The party is critical about thewar on terror.It wants to strengthen thepeacekeepingpowers of theUnited Nationsand reform theDutch armed forcesinto a peace force, with the functions ofNATOto be taken over by the European Union and the United Nations.
GroenLinks wants to solve environmental problems, especiallyclimate change,by stimulating durable alternatives. The party wants to use taxes andemissions tradingto stimulatealternative energyas an alternative to bothfossil fuelandnuclear plants.It wants to close all nuclear plants in the Netherlands and impose a tax on the use of coal in energy production, in order to discourage the building of new coal-based power plants. Moreover, it wants to stimulateenergy saving.It wants to invest in cleanpublic transport,as an alternative to private transport. Investments inpublic transportcan be financed by not expandinghighwaysand imposingtolls on the use of roads(calledrekeningrijden). The party wants to stimulateorganic farmingthrough taxes as an alternative toindustrial agriculture.Moreover, GroenLinks wants to codifyanimal rightsin theConstitution.[43]
GroenLinks values individual freedom and therule of law.The party wants to legalisesoft drugs.It wants to protect civil rights on the Internet by extending constitutional protection for free communication to email and other modern technologies. It also favours a reform ofcopyrightto allow non-commercial reproduction and the use ofopen-source softwarein the public sector. In the long term, it seeks to abolish themonarchyand create arepublic.It also favours a reduction of the size of the government bureaucracy, for instance by decreasing the number ofDutch ministriesand abolishing theSenate.Finally, GroenLinks favours liberalimmigrationandasylumpolicies. It wants to empower victims ofhuman traffickingby giving them a residence permit and it wants to abolish the income requirements for marriage migration.[43]
In the party's 2021 election programme, it stated that it wants to introduce abasic income for allDutch citizens within eight years.[46]
Election results
editHouse of Representatives
edit| Election | Lead candidate | List | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Ria Beckers | List | 362,304 | 4.1 | 6 / 150
|
3
|
Opposition |
| 1994 | Ina Brouwer | List | 311,399 | 3.5 | 5 / 150
|
 1
|
Opposition |
| 1998 | Paul Rosenmöller | List | 625,968 | 7.3 | 11 / 150
|
6
|
Opposition |
| 2002 | List | 660,692 | 7.0 | 10 / 150
|
1
|
Opposition | |
| 2003 | Femke Halsema | List | 495,802 | 5.1 | 8 / 150
|
2
|
Opposition |
| 2006 | List | 453,054 | 4.6 | 7 / 150
|
1
|
Opposition | |
| 2010 | List | 628,096 | 6.7 | 10 / 150
|
3
|
Opposition | |
| 2012 | Jolande Sap | List | 219,896 | 2.3 | 4 / 150
|
6
|
Opposition |
| 2017 | Jesse Klaver | List | 959,600 | 9.1 | 14 / 150
|
10
|
Opposition |
| 2021 | List | 537,584 | 5.2 | 8 / 150
|
6
|
Opposition |
Senate
edit| Election | Votes | Weight | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4 / 75
|
1
| |||
| 1995 | 4 / 75
|
| |||
| 1999 | 8 / 75
|
4
| |||
| 2003 | 10,866 | 6.7 (#4) | 5 / 75
|
3
| |
| 2007 | 9,074 | 5.6 (#6) | 4 / 75
|
1
| |
| 2011 | 10,757 | 6.5 (#7) | 5 / 75
|
1
| |
| 2015 | 30 | 9,520 | 5.6 (#7) | 4 / 75
|
1
|
| 2019 | 65 | 19,363 | 11.2 (#4) | 8 / 75
|
4
|
| 2023 | 55 | 17,313 | 9.67 (#3) | 7 / 75
|
1
|
European Parliament
edit| Election | List | Vote | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | List | 154,362 | 3.74 | 1 / 31
|
New | G |
| 1999 | List | 419,869 | 11.85 | 4 / 31
|
3
|
Greens-EFA |
| 2004 | List | 352,201 | 7.39 | 2 / 27
|
2
| |
| 2009 | List | 404,020 | 8.87 | 3 / 25
|
1
| |
3 / 26
|
0
| |||||
| 2014 | List | 329,906 | 6.98 | 2 / 26
|
1
| |
| 2019 | List | 599,283 | 10.90 | 3 / 26
|
1
| |
3 / 29
|
0
|
Provincial
edit| Election | Votes | % | Seats | Change | Involved in Executives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 36 / 758
|
||||
| 1995 | 34 / 758
|
2
|
|||
| 1999 | 50 / 764
|
||||
| 2003 | 37 / 564
|
1 / 12
| |||
| 2007 | 33 / 564
|
4
|
2 / 12
| ||
| 2011 | 6.30% (7th) | 34 / 566
|
1
|
2 / 12
| |
| 2015 | 324,572 | 5.35% (7th) | 30 / 570
|
4
|
2 / 12
|
| 2019 | 783,006 | 10.76% (4th) | 61 / 570
|
31
|
8 / 12
|
| 2023[a] | 694,678 | 8.96% (3rd) | 51 / 533
|
10
|
5 / 11
|
- ^Contested as part ofGroenLinks–PvdAinZeeland.
Representation
edit
Members of the House of Representatives
editMembers of the Senate
editMembers of the European Parliament
editElectorate
editAccording to a survey done in 2006 more women vote for GroenLinks than men by a margin of 20%.[47]The party also disproportionately appeals togayvoters. The party also polls well among migrant voters, especially those fromTurkeyandMorocco,where its support is twice as high as in the general population.[48][49]
GroenLinks voters have an eccentric position in their preferences for particular policies. Between 1989 and 2003 they were the most leftwing voters in the Netherlands, often a little more to the left than voters of theSP.[50]These voters are in favor of the redistribution of wealth, free choice foreuthanasia,opening the borders forasylum seekers,themulticultural societyand are firmly against building newnuclear plants.[50]
GroenLinks has the second-largest proportion ofvegan/vegetarianvoters of any political party in the Netherlands, with 8.4% or 16.9% of GroenLinks voters in saying in 2 surveys in 2021 that they did not eat meat. The party with the highest proportion of vegan/vegetarian voters in both surveys was theParty for the Animals,for which the share laid at 17.3% or 27.9%.[51][52][53]
Style and campaign
editThe logo of GroenLinks is the name of the party with the word "Green"written inredand the word "Left" written in green since 1994. Additional colours used in the logo are white, yellow and blue. An earlier logo, used between 1989 and 1994, and which can be seen on the posteraboveshowed a variation of apeace signprojected on a green triangle on which "PPR PSP CPN EVP" was written and next to it GroenLinks in green and pink.
From 2007 onwards, GroenLinks has adopted the idea of a "permanent campaign", which implies that campaign activities are held even when there is no immediate connection to an election.[54]Permanent campaign activities are intended to create and maintain a base level of sympathy and knowledge about the party platform.
Organisation
editName and logo
editThe name "GroenLinks" (until 1992 "Groen Links" with a space between Groen and Links) is a compromise between the PPR and the CPN and the PSP. The PPR wanted the word "Green"in the name of the party, the PSP and the CPN the word"Left".It also emphasises the core ideals of the party, environmental sustainability and social justice.[12]
In 1984, the common list of the PPR, PSP and CPN for the1984 European electionswas calledGreen Progressive Accord– at that time the PPR did not want to accept the word "left" in the name of the political combination. The parties had entered in the1989 European electionsas theRainbow(Regenboog), in reference to theRainbow Groupin the European Parliament between 1984 and 1989.[11]
-
Logo from 1989 to 1994 -
Current logo -
Variant logo
Organisational structure
editThe highest organ of GroenLinks is theparty congress,which is open to all members. The congress elects the party-board, it decides on the order of the candidates for national and European elections and it has a final say over the party platform. The congress convenes at least once every year in spring or when needed.
The party board consists of fifteen members who are elected for a two-year term. Thechairpersonof this board is the only paid position on the board, the others are unpaid. The chairperson together with four other board members (the vice-chair, the treasurer, the secretary, the European secretary and the international secretary) handles the daily affairs and meet every two weeks while the other ten board members meet only once a month.[55]
For the months that the congress does not convene, a party council takes over its role. It consists out of 80 representatives of all the 250 municipal branches. The party board and the nationally elected representatives of the party are responsible to the party council. It has the right to fill vacancies in the board, make changes to the party constitution and takes care of the party's finances.[55]
There are several independent organisations which are linked to GroenLinks:
- DWARS,the independent youth organisation of GroenLinks
- De Linker Wang ( "The Left Cheek" ), platform for Religion and Politics, which is aprogressive Christianplatform, which was formed by former members of theEvangelical People's Party.[56]
- Scientific Bureau GroenLinks, the independent politicalthink tankwhich publishes "De Helling"[57](Dutch for "the Slope" ).[58]
- PinkLeft,anLGBTorganisation for GroenLinks members.[59]
GroenLinks is also active on the European and the global stage. It is a founding member of theEuropean Green Partyand theGlobal Greens.Its MEPs sit inThe Greens–European Free Alliancegroup. GroenLinks cooperates with seven other Dutch parties in theNetherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy,an institute which supports democratic development in developing countries.[60]
Relationships with other parties
editGroenLinks was founded as a mid-sized party to the left of theLabour Party(PvdA). In the 1994 elections, theSocialist Party(SP) also entered parliament. GroenLinks now takes a central position in the Dutch left between the socialist SP, which is more to the left, and the social-democratic PvdA, which is more to the centre.[61]This position is exemplified by the call of Femke Halsema to form a left-wing coalition after the 2006 elections, knowing that such a coalition is only possible with GroenLinks. Theelectoral alliancebetween SP and GL in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 elections,[62]and between GroenLinks and PvdA in the 2004 European elections are examples of this position.[63]In the2007 First Chamber election,it had an electoral alliance with theParty for the Animals.[64]More and more, however, GroenLinks is seen as the most culturally progressive of the three parties.[65][66]
GroenLinks does not run an independent list for thewater board elections.Instead, likeD66andVolt Netherlands,it recommends that its voters supportWater Natuurlijk,an independent,green-oriented political party focused solely on water board elections.[67]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^"Katinka Eikelenboom nieuwe voorzitter GroenLinks".Het Parool(in Dutch). 16 February 2019.Retrieved7 April2019.
- ^"GroenLinks",Parlement,Leiden University,retrieved29 April2008
- ^"Ledentallen Nederlandse politieke partijen per 1 januari 2024"[Membership of Dutch political parties as of 1 January 2024].University of Groningen(in Dutch). Documentation Centre Dutch Political Parties. 28 February 2024.Retrieved28 February2024.
- ^abNordsieck, Wolfram (2021)."Netherlands".Parties and Elections in Europe.Retrieved22 March2021.
- ^ab"Van poppodia naar de bedrijfskantine - Klaver wil van GroenLinks brede volkspartij maken".22 November 2017.
- ^"De ideologische herprofilering van GroenLinks: na 28 jaar de gehoopte doorbraak?".8 December 2017.
- ^"Netherlands".Europe Elects.Retrieved3 August2024.
- ^Terry, Chris (11 May 2014)."GreenLeft (GL)".The Democratic Society.Archived fromthe originalon 27 March 2019.
- ^Vendrik, Kees;Bart Snels; et al. (18 November 2006),Groei Mee. Programma van GroenLinks. Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 22 november 2006,Utrecht: GroenLinks
- ^Gebhard Moldenhauer (1 January 2001).Die Niederlande und Deutschland: einander kennen und verstehen.Waxmann Verlag. pp. 113–.ISBN978-3-89325-747-8.
- ^abcdefKoole, Ruud(1995),Politieke Partijen in Nederland. Onstaan en ontwikkeling van partijen en partijenstelsel,Utrecht: Spectrum
- ^abcdefgLucardie, Paul;Wijbrandt van Schuur; Gerrit Voerman (1999),Verloren Illusie, Geslaagde Fusie? GroenLinks in Historisch and Politicologische Perspectief,Leiden: DSWO-press
- ^abcdefLucardie, Paul;Marjolein Nieboer; Ida Noomen (1991),"Kroniek 1990. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 1990",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008
- ^abcLucardie, Paul;J. Hippe; G. Voerman (1995),"Kroniek 1994. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 1994",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008
- ^abcLucardie, Paul;W.H. van Schuur; G. Voerman (1994),"Paul of Ina, Kanttekeningen bij de keuze van de politiek leider door GroenLinks",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008
- ^abAndeweg, R.B.;Galen Irwin (2002),Governance and Politics in the Netherlands,Basingstoke: Palgrave
- ^Geschiedenis GroenLinks,archived fromthe originalon 27 June 2004,retrieved29 April2008
- ^abLagendijk, JoostandTom van der Lee"Doorbraak van de eeuwige belofte. Hoe GroenLinks vier jaar herkenbare oppositie omzette in verkiezingswinst", in Kramer, P., T. van der Maas and L. Ornstein (eds.) (1998).Stemmen in Stromenland. De verkiezingen van 1098 nader bekekenDen Haag: SDU
- ^Lucardie, Paul;B. de Boer; I. Noomen; G. Voerman (1999),"Kroniek 1998. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 1998",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008
- ^Lucardie, Paul;B. de Boer; I. Noomen; G. Voerman (2001),"Kroniek 2000. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 2000",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008
- ^Brader, Toof(2000),Als de Trêveszaal lonkt. Dubbelportret van GroenLinks,Amsterdam: Mets and Schilt
- ^Lucardie, Paul;B. de Boer; I. Noomen; G. Voerman (2000),"Kroniek 1999. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 1999",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008
- ^abcLucardie, Paul;B. de Boer; I. Noomen; G. Voerman (2002),"Kroniek 2001. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 2001",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008
- ^T. Oedayraj Singh Varma,retrieved29 April2008
- ^abcLucardie, Paul;J. Hippe; G. Voerman (2003),"Kroniek 2002. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 2002",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008
- ^Rosenmöller, Paul(2003),Een Mooie Hondenbaan,Amersfoort: De Balans
- ^abcLucardie, Paul;J. Hippe; G. Voerman (2005),"Kroniek 2004. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 2004",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008
- ^"De laatste links-liberale partij van Nederland",NRC Handelsblad,11 October 2005
- ^Snels, B.(ed.) (2007).Vrijheid als Ideaal.Nijmegen: SUN.
- ^abDoorduyn, Yvonne (5 February 2007), "Zo afhaken, dat is eens maar nooit weer; Het GroenLinks-congres laat zijn tanden zien, maar bijt niet",De Volkskrant
- ^Karimi, Farah(2005),Het geheim van het vuur,Amsterdam: Arena
- ^abcdeLucardie, Paul;J. Hippe; R. Kroeze; G. Voerman (2008),"Kroniek 2006. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 2006",Jaarboek DNPP,Groningen: DNPP,retrieved28 April2008[dead link]
- ^Inbraak EZ door Duyvendak leidde tot bedreiging,NRC Handelsblad, 14 August 2008, archived fromthe originalon 19 September 2008
- ^Duyvendak legt Kamerlidmaatschap neer,NRC Handelsblad, 14 August 2008, archived fromthe originalon 15 September 2008
- ^Kees Vendrik wordt woordvoerder Milieu, Klimaat & GlobaliseringArchived2008-09-16 at theWayback Machineop GroenLinks.nl
- ^"Interview met Femke Halsema".
- ^"Reconstructie: zo klapte de formatie met GroenLinks".RTL Nieuws(in Dutch). 12 June 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 20 October 2021.
- ^"Grote stap voor PvdA, GroenLinks: verder samen in Eerste Kamer"(in Dutch). NOS. 11 June 2022. Archived fromthe originalon 29 June 2022.
- ^"PvdA en GroenLinks met één lijst de verkiezingen in, leden stemmen massaal voor".NOS(in Dutch). 17 July 2023.Retrieved12 September2023.
- ^"GroenLinks presenteert vernieuwde uitgangspunten".GroenLinks.Archived fromthe originalon 24 July 2011.Retrieved11 September2010.
- ^"Halsema kiest voor liberalisme." in NRC Handelsblad, 11 October 2005.
- ^abHalsema, Femke(2004),"Vrijzinnig Links",De Helling,15(2), archived fromthe originalon 6 February 2007,retrieved29 April2008
- ^abcdBuitenweg, Kathalijne;Jolande Sap; et al. (April 2010),Klaar voor de Toekomst,Utrecht: GroenLinks
- ^abHalsema, Femke;Ineke van Gent(11 November 2005),Vrijheid Eerlijk Delen. Vrijzinnige Voorstellen voor sociale politiek.,archived fromthe originalon 2 August 2012,retrieved28 April2008
- ^"Green Left to slash unemployment pay - DutchNews.nl".DutchNews.nl.5 September 2006.Retrieved7 March2017.
- ^"Election Programme 2021".GroenLinks.Retrieved12 February2023.
GroenLinks wants to introduce a basic income for all Dutch citizens within the next eight years.
- ^Vrouwen kiezen vaker voor links, mannen voor rechts,Interview/NSS, archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2011,retrieved1 May2008
- ^Allochtone kiezers bepalend op 7 maart,NOS, archived fromthe originalon 16 November 2007,retrieved1 May2008
- ^Ingrid van der Chijs (8 March 2006),Allochtonen stemmen massaal op PvdA,Elsevier, archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2011,retrieved6 May2008
- ^abHolsteyn, van, J.J.M;J.M. den Ridder (2005),Alles blijft anders. Nederlandse kiezers en de verkiezingen aan het begin van de 21e eeuw,Amsterdam: Aksent
- ^"De pluimveesector mag er zijn en blijven!"(PDF).depluimveesectormagerzijnenblijven.nl.2021. p. 10.
- ^"NL staat achter de varkenssector!"(PDF).bouwenopframesoffeiten.nl.2021. p. 10.
- ^"Eten PvdD- en GroenLinksstemmers liever kip dan varken? - Vleesonderzoek varkens- en pluimveesector levert verrassend resultaat op".Foodlog.14 June 2021.Retrieved25 March2022.
- ^Verantwoording Partijbestuur 2006(rtf),GroenLinks, 2007,retrieved1 May2008[dead link]
- ^abStatuten op GroenLinks.,retrieved1 May2008[permanent dead link]
- ^Lucardie, P., I Noomen en G. Voerman, (1992) "Kroniek 2001. Overzicht van de partijpolitieke gebeurtenissen van het jaar 1991" inJaarboek 1991Groningen: Documentatiecentrum Nederlandse Politieke Partijen
- ^"Dehelling".Archived fromthe originalon 5 January 2012.Retrieved21 January2012.
- ^For a complete overview of the DNPP seeGroenLinks - nevenorganisaties,retrieved28 April2008
- ^PinkLeft ( "RozeLinks" ) site(in Dutch)
- ^About NIMD,archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2007,retrieved28 April2008
- ^Laver, Michael;Mair, Peter(1999)."Party Policy and cabinet portfolios in the Netherlands 1998: Results from an expert survey".Acta Politica.34:49–64.
- ^SP en GroenLinks gaan lijstverbinding aan; PvdA ziet daarvan af on parlement,archived fromthe originalon 11 January 2013,retrieved1 May2008
- ^Nederlandse partijen in het Europees Parlement on parlement,archived fromthe originalon 23 December 2005,retrieved1 May2008
- ^"Linkse lijstverbinding GroenLinks strandt",De Telegraaf,28 April 2007, archived fromthe originalon 3 November 2007
- ^Pels, D. "Vrijheid: Het politieke spectrum" inSnels, B.(ed.) (2007).Vrijheid als Ideaal.Nijmegen: SUN.
- ^Krouwel, Andre,Kieskompas,Vrije Universiteit,archived fromthe originalon 12 April 2008,retrieved1 May2008
- ^"Veelgestelde vragen".Water natuurlijk(in Dutch).Retrieved17 October2024.
Further reading
edit- Lucardie, Paul; Voerman, Gerrit, eds. (2010).Van de straat naar de staat? GroenLinks 1990-2010(PDF)(in Dutch). Amsterdam: Boom.ISBN9789461053602.
External links
edit
