Catholic National Party
Encyclopedia
The Catholic National Party (in Dutch: Katholieke Nationale Partij, KNP) was a Dutch
conservative
Catholic
political party
. The KNP served as a catholic protest party against Indonesian independence.
. It was led by Charles Welter, a former Dutch Minister for Colonial Affairs, who rejected the Dutch government's support for Indonesia
n independence. It also turned against the cooperation of the Catholic People's Party
with the Labour Party.
In 1952 election
the party won another seat. In 1955 the bishop
s pressured the KNP to return to the KVP. Welter joined the KVP parliamentary party. In the 1956
and 1959
election Welter got a seat for the KVP.
politics. The party was conservative in economic and ethical matters.
The most important issue for the KNP was the unity of the Dutch empire
. It rejected the independence of the Dutch Indies and it stead wanted to form a kingdom in which the Netherlands
and Indonesia were equal partners. In 1950 the independence of Indonesia was irreversible, and the party oriented towards other issues. It became an advocate fo the interests of the Papuas
, Ambonese
people and Dutch citizens for the Netherlands. The two Protestant parties ARP and CHU were also divided on the issue of Indonesian independence. With the CHU cooperating in the Dutch cabinet and the ARP rejecting Indonesian independence.
It also sought to limit government interference in society and reduce government spending. It however advocated increased support for the agricultural
and shipbuilding
sectors.
were many former civil servants from the Dutch Indies and was weaker in the three Northern provinces.
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. The KNP served as a catholic protest party against Indonesian independence.
Party History
The KNP was founded on December 11, 1948 as a continuation of the list-Welter (Committee for Action). This list got one seat in the 1948 electionDutch general election, 1948
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 7, 1948.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party...
. It was led by Charles Welter, a former Dutch Minister for Colonial Affairs, who rejected the Dutch government's support for Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n independence. It also turned against the cooperation of the Catholic People's Party
Catholic People's Party
The Catholic People's Party was a Catholic Christian democratic Dutch political party. During its entire existence, the party was in government. The party is one of the precursors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.- 1945-1965 :The KVP was founded on 22 December, 1945...
with the Labour Party.
In 1952 election
Dutch general election, 1952
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on June 25, 1952.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party...
the party won another seat. In 1955 the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s pressured the KNP to return to the KVP. Welter joined the KVP parliamentary party. In the 1956
Dutch general election, 1956
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on June 13, 1956.The 1956 election marks an important change in the history of the Dutch House of Representatives: the number of seats in the House was increased from 100 to 150.-National...
and 1959
Dutch general election, 1959
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on March 12, 1959.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party...
election Welter got a seat for the KVP.
Ideology & Issues
The KNP was a catholic party, which advocated christian-democraticChristian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
politics. The party was conservative in economic and ethical matters.
The most important issue for the KNP was the unity of the Dutch empire
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
. It rejected the independence of the Dutch Indies and it stead wanted to form a kingdom in which the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Indonesia were equal partners. In 1950 the independence of Indonesia was irreversible, and the party oriented towards other issues. It became an advocate fo the interests of the Papuas
Western New Guinea
West Papua informally refers to the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea.The population of approximately 3 million...
, Ambonese
Ambon Island
Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
people and Dutch citizens for the Netherlands. The two Protestant parties ARP and CHU were also divided on the issue of Indonesian independence. With the CHU cooperating in the Dutch cabinet and the ARP rejecting Indonesian independence.
It also sought to limit government interference in society and reduce government spending. It however advocated increased support for the agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
sectors.
Representation
This table shows the KNP'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.| Year | HoR | S | Lijsttrekker Lijsttrekker Lijsttrekker is a Dutch term for the top candidate of a party on a party list. He or she is almost always the party's political leader. After an election, this person usually leads the party's faction in the States-General, or serves in a senior position in the Cabinet if his party is part of... |
Fractievoorzitter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 Dutch general election, 1948 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 7, 1948.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
1 | 0 | Charles Welter Charles Welter Charles Joseph Ignace Marie Welter was a Dutch politician of the Roman-Catholic State Party until the party became the Catholic People's Party later his own formed Catholic National Party and again the Catholic People's Party .-Decorations:* Order of the Netherlands Lion** Knight * Order of... |
Charles Welter |
| 1949 | 1 | 0 | no elections | Charles Welter |
| 1950 | 1 | 0 | no elections | Charles Welter |
| 1951 | 1 | 0 | no elections | Charles Welter |
| 1952 Dutch general election, 1952 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on June 25, 1952.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
1 | 0 | Charles Welter Charles Welter Charles Joseph Ignace Marie Welter was a Dutch politician of the Roman-Catholic State Party until the party became the Catholic People's Party later his own formed Catholic National Party and again the Catholic People's Party .-Decorations:* Order of the Netherlands Lion** Knight * Order of... |
Charles Welter |
| 1953 | 1 | 0 | no elections | Charles Welter |
| 1954 | 1 | 0 | no elections | Charles Welter |
Electorate
The support of the KNP was spread throughout the country. The party's support peaked in the HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
were many former civil servants from the Dutch Indies and was weaker in the three Northern provinces.