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November 23, 2006
Netherlands: another close election
So, here we are again. A European country - in this case the Netherlands - goes to the polls and the result is indecisive, with no clear winner or obvious coalition emerging.
As sure enough as "nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition", we all expect fresh attacks on PR after this result. Such niceties as no British electoral reformer would recommend a Dutch-style national list system are likely to be forgotten by numbers of journalists and politicians alike. Nor are they going to remember that turnout was a staggering 80%.
While there may be some lengthy coalition negotiations to come, trying to seek some sort of consensus and shared way forward is surely better than if one party was allowed to govern on its own and manifestly against the wishes of the majority of the electorate. The Dutch result seems to reflect a genuine indecision and turn-off the main parties amongst Dutch electors. Indeed, late-deciding and swing voters seem to have plumped in significant numbers for smaller parties at both ends of the political spectrum. At least in the Netherlands voters have this option of meaningfully registering their disatisfaction at mainstream politics at the polls; rather than the more common form of protest here of simply staying away altogether.
Posted by malcolmclark on November 23, 2006
