Roman Catholic People's Party

Kingdom of the Netherlands
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of the Netherlands
Constitution Charter Wet Algemene Bepalingen Human rights
Monarchy King Willem-Alexander Council of Ministers Ministers Plenipotentiary Aruba Curaçao St. Maarten
Cabinet Prime Minister (list) Mark Rutte Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher Cabinet (list) Current cabinet (69th / Rutte 2)
States General Senate President: Ankie Broekers-Knol Current membership Historic composition House of Representatives Speaker: vacant Current membership Historic composition Parliamentary committees
Judiciary Supreme Court High Councils of State Council of State Court of Audit National Ombudsman
Elections Recent elections General: 2006 2010 2012 Provincial: 2007 2011 2015 Municipal: 2006 2010 2014 European: 2004 2009 2014 Referendums Referendums: 2005 2016 Political parties Politicians
Local government Provincial politics Water boards Municipal politics BES islands
Foreign relations Diplomatic missions of the Netherlands to the Netherlands
Related topics Social Economic Council Central Bank Contemporary history
Other countries Atlas Politics portal

The Roman Catholic People's Party (in Dutch: Roomsch-katholieke Volkspartij, RKVP) was a Dutch Social Catholic political party. The RKVP played only a marginal role in Dutch politics.

Party History

The RKVP was founded in 1922 by Pius Arts. In the 1925 election the party won one seat which was taken by Aarts. In the 1929 election the party lost its one seat. In the 1933 election the party regained one seat. In same year the party merged with the Catholic Democratic League to form the Catholic Democratic Party. In 1937 this party merged with the Roman Catholic State Party, the larger, centrist, catholic party.

Ideology & Issues

The RKVP combined a conservative Catholic stance on ethical issues with a progressive, leftwing stance on economic issues.

It advocated the interest of Catholic workers and it wanted just taxation and a strong influence of labour unions in companies. It wanted to increase support for large families and also price controls. The party was in favour of private home-ownership and lower rents. It also supported national disarmament.

In ethical issues, it was as conservative as the Roman Catholic State Party, the larger, centrist, Catholic party. It advocated the re-institution of the envoy at the Holy See and an end to the ban on processions.

Leadership & Support

This table shows the RKVP's results in elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, 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.

Electorate

The party drew most its support from catholic workers from the region around Tiel, Aarts' home town.

Defunct political parties in the Netherlands Catholic General League Roman Catholic People's Party Roman-Catholic State Party Catholic People's Party Catholic National Party Political Party of Radicals Roman Catholic Party Netherlands Liberal Liberal Union Radical League Free-thinking Democratic League League of Free Liberals Liberal Party Economic League Middle Class Party Neutral Party Liberal State Party Freedom Party Reformed Anti Revolutionary Party Christian Historical Voters' League Free Anti Revolutionary Party Christian Historical Party Frisian League Christian Historical Union League of Christian Socialists Christian Democratic Party Christian Social Party Christian Democratic Union Reformed Reformed State Party Reformed Political Alliance Reformatory Political Federation Evangelical People's Party Socialist Social Democratic League Social Democratic Workers' Party Communist Party of the Netherlands Socialist Party Revolutionary Socialist Party Pacifist Socialist Party Democratic Socialists '70 Other Alliance for the Democratization of the Army Peasants' League Middle Party for City and Country Alliance for National Reconstruction National Socialist Movement Farmers' Party New Middle Party Centre Party Centre Party '86 Centre Democrats Dutch Block New National Party New Right National Alliance General Elderly Alliance Union 55+ Livable Netherlands Pim Fortuyn List Proud of the Netherlands Independent Citizens' Party