Roman-Catholic Political Party (Dutch: Rooms-Katholieke Staatspartij, RKSP) was a Dutch Catholic Christian-Democratic political party. The party was founded in 1926 as a continuation of the General League. In 1945 the party became the Catholic People's Party (KVP).
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The RKSP was founded June 3, 1926, as the continuation of the Algemeene Bond van RK-kiesverenigingen (General League of Roman-Catholic Caucuses). Since 1918, the General League called itself RKSP informally. Instead of the loose league of caucuses, with little party discipline, as the General League was, the RKSP became a real party, with stronger party discipline and organisation.
In 1922 another Catholic party, RKVP, was founded by former members of the General League. It was oriented towards Catholic workers. The General League received little competition from this party, but accelerated the RKSP's process of party-formation.
During the 1920s and the 1930s, the RKSP was the biggest party in the Netherlands, receiving a steady 30% percent of the vote at each election. During this entire period the party was in government, in coalition with the Anti Revolutionary Party (ARP) and the Christian Historical Union (CHU), two Protestant parties. This coalition was called the Coalition.
The party was blocked from many political offices however, because of the historic discrimination against Catholics in the Netherlands. Positions like the vice-president of the council of state and the President of the Senate and House of Representatives of parliament were all filled by Protestants. The RKSP also supplied only one prime minister, Ruijs de Beerenbrouck, between 1929 and 1933.
The cooperation with the ARP and CHU was problematic. In 1925 the cabinet was composed of the ARP, the CHU and the General League fell over the Dutch representation at the Holy See. This issue continued to divide the RKSP and the CHU and the ARP, as did the prohibition of traditional marches by Catholic churches and the role of government in the economy.
The cabinet Colijn-II fell because the RKSP wanted a more interventionist economic policy, but that cabinet was restored. In 1939, however the Cabinet Colijn IV fell again on economic policy. In 1939, a coalition of RKSP, CHU, Free-thinking Democratic League (VDB) and Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP) ended more than 20 years of Coalition government.
After war, the RKSP was replaced by the KVP.
The RKSP based on biblical norms and Catholic dogma. An important encyclical was Rerum Novarum of 1891. In this Pope Leo XIII called for stronger government interference in the economy, while denouncing socialism.
The party was a staunch proponent of a corporatist economy, where employer's organisations, unions and state work together for the common good. The RKSP was in favour of social and labour legislation. During the 1930s the call for a more active role of government was strengthened, due to the economic crisis.
The RKSP wanted strong government control over public morality: divorce should be limited, the Sunday's rest was to be kept, cinemas and theatres should be kept under tight government control, alcohol addiction should be combated.
In international affairs the RKSP was an advocate of Dutch neutrality, which was to be maintained by a strong army and navy. Furthermore the party was in favour of the colonial government of the Dutch Indies.
The KVP had close links to many other Catholic institutions such as the Roman-Catholic Church and together they formed the Catholic pillar. These organisations included the Catholic Labour Union, the Catholic Employers Organisation, the Catholic Farmers' Organisation, Catholic Hospitals united in the Yellow-White Cross and Catholic Schools. The Catholic Broadcasting Association KRO and the Catholic paper De Volkskrant were the voices of the RKSP.
The Limburg-based priest Nolens led the party since its foundation, till his death in 1931.
The former professor and minister Aalberse succeeded Nolens.
Other prominent figures were Ruijs de Beerenbrouck, Prime Minister between 1918 and 1925, and between 1929 and 1933 and the young Romme, who would lead the KVP in the 1940s and 1950s.
The RKSP was supported by Catholics of all classes. In North Brabant and Limburg, it often got more than 90% of the vote.
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