Dutch Politics

Enjoy this spastic Blog.

The Dutch political system is rather weird. The Netherlands is a kingdom, much like the UK, with a Queen who holds slightly more political power.

There are two Kamers (Rooms) where the many wonderful Dutch laws (prostitution, drugs, ect.) are made. Actually drugs are illegal in Holland, but that is another story.

The Tweede Kamer is the main legislative body. Currently there are several political parties who hold zetels (seats). The current Government Coalition is the Fourth Balkenende Parliament. This is a coalition of Christen Democratisch Appèl (Christian Democratic Appeal), Christen Unie (Christian Union), and De Partij van de Arbeid (Labor Party). This is the fourth time that this leader has crashed the government.

My favourite Character is the wonderful Rita Verdonk (I mean "wonderful" in the most sarcasticly possible way)

Rita removed the passport of the famous Ayaan Hirsi Ali, after she admitted that she lied about her name, to get away from her family, who had cut off her clitoris!!! Rita is a big fan of getting rid of immigrants (non-white ones I should say, I have no problems with the Immigration Service). She likes the famous new political phrase "Vol is Vol" (Full is Full, meaning Holland is full and needs no new people!

Ayaan was working on a film called Submission with Theo van Gogh (pronounced Choch, if the Ch is pronounces like the Ch in Loch). Theo was killed by a radical Muslim, who placed demands for her death and the death of many politicians, written on paper, and pinned with daggers to his dead corps (btw this was all done in a public park).

Back to the Government…
Well it is going to fall, once again. Now the Dutch are once again fighting over a referendum over the European Constitution. All other European nations have decided to keep the vote within the parliament, but the Dutch have a split cabinet. De Partij van de Arbeid wants a referendum, but the Christians (in typical form) prefer the less democratic route.

Now the way that it all works, and the source of the failure is written below…

1. Elections are held
2. Parties come together and form a Government, which requires 51% of the seats, these parties decide who the Prime Minister and all of the other ministers.
3. The Éérste Kamer is elected by the provinces
3. Together, these parties decide what will be law in the Second Room, the First Room then checks whether or not it is constitutional.
4. All other parties become the Opposition
5. When part of the “Government Coalition” decides that it wants something, and but one of the parties within the coalition disagrees, they fight

6. Officially when no resolve comes, the Queen dissolves the government and requires a new Election.

I have lived in Holland for 11 months, and I have lived through two Governments, it will soon be three!


Watch this video, it takes the popular cartoon and makes fun of Rita Verdonk