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I'm probably an advocate of real politik, more centrist in Dutch political spectrum.  In U.S. this would be equivalent to the left wing of the Democratic party. The cabinet to run government in The Netherlands will always be formed by a coalition of parties. When party dogmas are involved it will be hard to govern, see the seventies under PM Joop den Uijl - dutch. Most likely he became PM a decade too late, as his party PvdA and the Labor Unions NVV-NKV-CNV did not adjust to changing economic conditions and spend money ill mannered. Under PM Den Uijl the WAO disability coverage was used to dump employees who lost their job and above 55 years of age were difficult to be re-employed.

Some points of concern to Dutch politics --

• Solidarity in Dutch society and good coverage of Medical Insurance, Disability Support and Basic Pension for all.
  
• Need to make cost savings in running government - national, provincial and in local city administrations.
  
• Need to downsize government into an efficient organization, cut all red tape and many formal regulations should be scrapped no one can oversee.
  
• Re-organize the provinces to eliminate historic boundaries into new settings according to 21th century economic entities with supporting logistics of roads, expressways and public transportation.
  
• Keep important public utilities in semi-government hands: electricity, gas and water distribution. Public transportation should deliver high standard to keep individuals out of their cars for easy short-distance travel near metropoles.
  
• De-centralize city government into administrations by smaller districts of 75-100k residents. See my diary U.S. embassy moves.
  
• Eliminate members in parliament from 150 down to 100 seats and increase their income by 50%. Prefer quality above quantity.
  
• Government should not run up expenses and national debt like Wim Kok under Paars II at the end of an economic growth cycle.
  
• Adjust pension to an age that commensurates with type of labor. Heavy manual labor or combination of physical and mental strain in job could choose pension at lower age than 65, others willing to be employed at an later age than 65 should receive some benefit. Choice is to the individual, not dogmatic, but make it flexible to one's possibilities.
  
• Immigration and Asylum Policy should be completely reviewed and renewed within European Union.

CPB Macro Economic Outlook

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You'll see the VVD moving toward the right to attract many voters who did vote for Pim Fortuyn or will stay at home again and not vote. The position of the LPF in 2002, the same where Geert Wilders and Hirsi Ali are positioning, is an electorate with a potential of 25 seats in Parliament.

Traditionally, the Christian Democrats CDA will stay in the center and it's easier to gain votes on the left wing of the party, former ARP and some KVP, who would otherwise transgress to Labor of Wouter Bos (PvdA).

The difference for next election could be the first voters, the young people who don't vote according to tradition and have an idealistic view of society. Much will depend on the state of the national economy, unemployment rate and ability for consumer spending.

Just this evening I understand Minister Zalm has a small extra of €3bn in receivables. Once the economy shows strength and growth above 2.5 %, daily life will be easier for all consumers. Dutch economy is highly dependent on export, especially with Germany, and therefore the Christain Democratic alliance with Chancellor Angela Merkel will benefit both countries.

For a similar economic recovery see the years of Ruud Lubbers in the eighties. Lubbers was very young and still inexperienced as a politician, but today for the CDA voters he is the best post-war Dutch Prime Minister.

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In spectrum of Dutch politics the VVD is clearly to the right of the CDA Christian Democrats and have been positioned there historically. Read -- Liberal parties in Europe.

I can agree it's all relative to Dutch national politics and viewed in the factions of the European Parliament you'll find strange bedfellows.

PvdA - UK Labor party Tony Blair
CDA - UK Conservatives (David Cameron)
VVD - UK Liberals Charles Kennedy

Dutch EP Elections: Results June 2004

Frits Bolkestein (VVD) and Former EU Commissioner

  «« click on pic for view EU expansion

When you equate party platform and policy, I see Tony Blair more as leader of the Dutch VVD before he would challenge Wouter Bos on issues of the PvdA Socialists.

BBC News - European Election U.K. Result

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Is one of the most qualified politicians with an excellent track record in the business community on a national and international level. It's a great post within the EU Commission and friend and foe hailed the strategy followed by PM Jan Peter Balkenende to gain the post for The Netherlands.

  «« click on pic for Forbes bio

A Brighter Commission

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ELECTION SUMMARY ::

Year   1998   2002   2003
PvdA     45     23     42
VVD      38     24     28  
CDA      29     43     44

Coalition talks started in February 2003 between Election winner CDA Jan Peter Balkenende and new Labor leader Wouter Bos who made a great recovery for PvdA with 42 seats in parliament. On the agenda was the likelihood of an Iraq War and whether the Dutch should be part of the U.S. and U.K. coalition. As the present administration was not permitted to force a decision due to their post election status, Jan Peter Balkenende needed to have the 2nd largest party PvdA support for Iraq action.

In an unexpected move, the Dutch supported delivery of Patriot missile systems under NATO treaty to partner Turkey to secure their Southern border from Scud attack coming from Iraq in the event of war and Turkey participating. The U.S. needed to move Armed Forces and heavy material out of Germany through Rotterdam harbor for shipment to either Kuweit or Turkey to form a Northern front to attack Iraq through Kurdish area.

Dutch parliament gave the sitting coalition of CDA, VVD and LPF overwhelming vote to give political support but Dutch forces would NOT participate in the Coalition of the Willing. It was only after the new cabinet was installed with CDA-VVD-D'66 that the United Nations request of Kofi Annan and the Security Council to dispatch a Stabilization Force (SFIR) to the British Southern Sector was honored. Wouter Bos and the PvdA voted FOR the participation of Dutch Forces in Iraq.

Wouter Bos flip-flop

The decision for the final extension up to March 2005, Wouter Bos and the PvdA took the Gerhard U-turn for political gain to vote against this extension. A smaller majority was sufficient nevertheless to honor the U.N. commitment. In December 2004 this cabinet took the decision that the troops had done their task - see my comment/diary - and would definitely leave Iraq. At first the British forces took over in Iraqi province of Al-Muthanna, to be relieved by a new deployment of Australian troops who found the job done by the Dutch as excellent. The Dutch would place focus on Afghanistan where the role of NATO would be enlarged.

There is a definite distinction between the FM Jaap de Hoop Scheffer - more Atlantic in support of Iraq War - and new FM Bot who has a more continental EU view on the decision and moment to call for the Iraq invasion. See FM Bot's comment on nomination of John Bolton by President Bush early in 2005.

My diary @dKos ::
Dutch Aid to Iraq leads to Fatwa by Ali Sistani

PM Jan Peter Balkenende and Roosevelt's Four Freedoms at Margraten.

Iraq Coalition Troops
Non-US Forces in Iraq - 16 August 2005

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The Left parties in the Netherlands were challenged by public opinion after the assassination of upcoming politician Pim Fortuyn on May 6, 2002. The refusal by PvdA Interior Minister to provide Fortuyn with adaquate protection led to much anger by the Dutch voter and ultimate devastating defeat for most Leftist parties.

The murderer of Fortuyn came from a Left Animal Activist group, who have partaken through legal procedures the possibilities to prevent ecological damage to wildlife areas and national parks.

There are a number of groups active in the Netherlands, who have escaped capture, conviction and punishment by Justice for acts of harassment, property damage and arson.

In the months leading upto National Election 2002, there was a lot of media expression and attacks on the person Pim Fortuyn that could be considered character assassination. Much has been left untouched, as no one wants to aggravate the tense social structures within Dutch society.

The hours after Fortuyn's murder, there was fear for populace anger at parliament buildings in The Hague.

It's astounding that as Senator for the Green Party Groen Links Mr. S. Pormes has been asked by party leadership to step down, after an investigation found suspected ties in the seventies to terror groups and training in Yemen. The seventies saw a lot of unrest in Europe with the Baader Meinhoff gang and in the Netherlands Palestinian & Red Army terror and Moluccan acts of despair.

Carlos the Jackal

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≈ Cross-posted from Soj's diary -- CIA Secret Jails: Part 8 ≈

IT'S TIME TO CLEAN-UP CONGRESS IN 2006!

  «« click on pic to enlarge

LEAVE Iraq to the Iraqis

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Plane spotters verified a CIA plane landed and parked at Schiphol-East on November 17 with registration number N505LL. The plane is owned by the American Path Corporation, and according to insiders connected to the CIA.

In 2003 the same plane was spotted in Afghanistan in support of the American Special Forcesoperation.

The Dutch Ministry responsible for all traffic by air, road and river has confirmed this plane departed from Turkey on November 16 and arrived at Schiphol, Amsterdam airport the following day. A day later it departed for a flight to Iceland with further "unknown" destination. Any other information as to the purpose of its landing at Amsterdam airport, was not known by the Ministry. The Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry has never been asked for diplomatic clearance of any flight in Dutch air space.

FM Bernhard Bot made a tough position known to parliament last Thursday, having asked the U.S. State Department for specific information for any flights or activities involving ghost detainees, as was published by the Washington Post recently.

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For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."  

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