Centre Democrats (Netherlands)
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The Centre Democrats (CD, Dutch: Centrum Democraten) was a Dutch nationalist political party espousing an anti-immigrant program. The CD was methodically isolated by the other parties in the Dutch Parliament.
Contents |
[edit] Party History
[edit] Foundation
The party was founded in November 1984 by Hans Janmaat, it was a split from the more xenophobic Centrumpartij (CP, Centre Party). Janmaat thought that by stearing a more moderate course the CP would able to attract more voters at the polls. He came into conflict over this with his fellow party-members and after being removed from the party-ranks he founded the Centre Democrats. The CD tried to profile themselves as a more acceptable form of the CP. The slogans they used were more moderate and less explicit then those of the CP: instead of "Own People First" (Eigen volk eerst) their program was called "East, West, Home Best" (Oost West Thuis Best, a Dutch proverb). A reconciliation meeting of the Centrum Democrats and Centrum Party on the March 29, 1986 in Kedichem, was made into a disaster by anti-fascists. A group of anti-fascist activists set the hotel of the meeting afire, ruining the place and causing permanent invalidity to Wil Schuurman, who would later become a member of parliament. No attempts to reconcile would be made thereafter. The CD, like the CP, was unable to obtain a seat in the 1986 election.
[edit] 1989-1998
After the 1986 elections the CD begins to work on its image and its grass roots support; this pays off and in 1989 the CD won one seat, filled by Wil Schuurman. In the 1990 municipal elections the CD won eleven seats. They win seats in Amsterdam and the Hague, in the latter one is filled by Wil Schuurman. In several neighbourhoods of Amsterdam the party wins more than 25% of votes.
The members of other political parties in the Dutch parliament refused to cooperate with the CD, inspired by the Belgian cordon sanitaire around the Vlaams Blok. Meanwhile the electoral success overtakes the party and Janmaat begins to make very controversial statements in the media. He claims that Ernst Hirsch-Ballin, the Minister of Justice, should step down because he is Jewish and he states that he is very glad that with the death of PVDA minister Ien Dales who had always fought rising intolerance. The cordon sanitair turned out to be counterproductive. 77 council seats were obtained in the 1994 municipal elections, and although polled at a higher result, 3 seats in the parliamentary elections later in that year. Wil Schuurman and Cor Zonneveld joined Janmaat in parliament. Although trying to be more varied, the 'foreigner issue' remained central to the party's rhetoric, both inside and outside of the parliament. Both Janmaat and Schuurman will be convicted of racism on multiple instances by Dutch courts. Janmaat, who serves as both chair of the parliamentary party and chair of the party's organization rules the party with an iron fist. This results in multiple party members being stripped of their membership. The infighting caused to be destructive to the party, which in 1998 lost all three seats in parliament.
[edit] Dissolution
The party continues to exist until the present day. It did not participate in the 2002 elections. With the passing of Janmaat in 2002 it is unlikely any future participation in elections will be forthcoming.
Some observers see a close ideological links between the CD and Pim Fortuyn's party, they both agitated against immigration and the multicultural society, Fortuyn however maintained a more liberal program.
[edit] Ideology & Issues
The CD started out as a marginal nationalist party, with a strong antipathy for the multicultural society and immigration. It fostered a more moderate image than its predecessor the Centre Party: instead of "Own People First" (Eigen Volk Eerst) the CDs program was called "East, West, Home Best" (Oost West Thuis Best, a Dutch proverb). It also used the slogan "Full is Full" (Vol is Vol) to campaign against immigration.
It also favoured mandatory AIDS tests, the death penalty, more direct democracy and environmental conservation
[edit] Representation
In this table the election results of the CD in Tweede Kamer, Eerste Kamer and European elections is represented, as well as the party's political leadership: the fractievoorzitter, is the chair of the parliamentary party and the lijsttrekker is the party's top candidate in the general election, these posts are normally taken by the party's leader.
| Year | TK | EK | EP | Lijsttrekker | Fractievoorzitter | Cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Hans Janmaat | Hans Janmaat | opposition |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 0 | no elections | Hans Janmaat | opposition |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | 0 | no elections | Hans Janmaat | opposition |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 | 0 | no elections | Hans Janmaat | opposition |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | 0 | no elections | Hans Janmaat | opposition |
| 1994 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Hans Janmaat | Hans Janmaat | opposition |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 | 0 | no elections | Hans Janmaat | opposition |
| 1996 | 3 | 0 | 0 | no elections | Hans Janmaat | opposition |
| 1997 | 3 | 0 | 0 | no elections | Hans Janmaat | opposition |
[edit] Muncipal and Provincial Government
The CD performed particularly well in the 1994 municipal election, jumping from eleven to seventy-seven seats in municipal councils. It performed particularly well in poor urban areas. It never participated in any local governments
[edit] Electorate
The electorate of the CD was made up out of the poorer layers of society, who lived in urban areas where immigration of newcomers took largely place.
[edit] Organization
[edit] Party Organization
The CD had a very centralized, personalised organisation with strongman Janmaat, who served as both chair of the parliamentary party and chair of the party's organization.
[edit] Relationships to other parties
The CD was methodically isolated by the other parties in parliament.
[edit] International Comparison
As a small isolated nationalist party the CD can best be compared to the 1980s Belgian Vlaams Blok or the German Republicans. Comparisons with Pim Fortuyn's party fail both from an ideological and an organizational perspective: Fortuyn was more liberal and moderate than the CD; furthermore his party appealed to considerably more voters and was not isolated, but instead immediately became part of the first Balkenende cabinet.
