Frisian National Party
Encyclopedia
The Frisian National Party (West Frisian
: Frysk Nasjonale Partij; ) is a Frisia
n nationalist political party
in the Netherlands
. The FNP is mostly involved in Frisian politics. On the national level it is represented by one senator.
), which developed in the 19th century. It advocated the importance of the (West) Frisian language
, culture and sports
. The movement was founded in reaction to the use of Dutch in sermons of Dutch Reformed Church
es in Fryslân. The Frisian movement has links with the reformed Anti Revolutionary Party
, but in the 1962 provincial elections it claimed that Frisian interests were less important than Dutch national interests.
In 1966, it won its first seat in the provincial legislature and municipal councils. In 1995, it cooperated with provincial parties and the Greens
to get a seat in the Senate, which is elected indirectly, in the so-called Independent Senate Group. Between 1995 and 2003, it was taken by a member of the Greens, since 2003 it is taken by a member of the FNP.
political system in which Frisians get more autonomy. It calls for greater autonomy of the region, government use, protection and recognition of the Frisian language and Frisian control over its gas reserve
s.
in the Independent Senate Fraction
which had one seat in the Senate. Since 2003 this seat is taken by Hendrik ten Hoeve, a member of the FNP.
The party has five (out of 43) seats in the Frisian provincial legislative. It entered in the formation talks of a new provincial government, but chose to remain an opposition party.
The party has 62 members in 20 of the 31 Frisian local legislatives. It cooperates in the local executive of Wymbritseradiel
, Gaasterlân-Sleat
, Skarsterlân
2x, Tytsjerksteradiel
, Ferwerderadiel
, Littenseradiel
, Achtkarspelen
, Leeuwarderadeel
and Dongeradeel
. In Wûnseradiel
the party supplies the mayor.
On the European level, the party is a member of the European Free Alliance
, although it has no seats in the European Parliament
.
the FNP got nearly 28% of the votes and became the largest party in 2003.
In 2010 33.9% of the people voted FNP in the rural Skarsterlân
with which it together forms the Independent Senate Group. Historically it cooperated very well with the Political Party of Radicals, a left-wing Christian party.
West Frisian language
West Frisian is a language spoken mostly in the province of Friesland in the north of the Netherlands. West Frisian is the name by which this language is usually known outside the Netherlands, to distinguish it from the closely related Frisian languages of Saterland Frisian and North Frisian,...
: Frysk Nasjonale Partij; ) is a Frisia
Frisia
Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...
n nationalist 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...
in the Netherlands
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...
. The FNP is mostly involved in Frisian politics. On the national level it is represented by one senator.
Party history
The party was founded in 1962 by young activists of the Frisian movement (West Frisian: Fryske BewegingRied fan de Fryske Beweging
The Ried fan de Fryske Beweging , or Council of the Frisian Movement, is an organisation of people who have a keen interest in, and want to support, Frisia, the Frisian languages, and Frisian culture...
), which developed in the 19th century. It advocated the importance of the (West) Frisian language
West Frisian language
West Frisian is a language spoken mostly in the province of Friesland in the north of the Netherlands. West Frisian is the name by which this language is usually known outside the Netherlands, to distinguish it from the closely related Frisian languages of Saterland Frisian and North Frisian,...
, culture and sports
Fierljeppen
Fierljeppen is a traditional sport of the Frisians and of the Dutch. Ljeppen is West Frisian for "to leap". It is a fine example of the close relationship between the Frisian and English languages.-Description:...
. The movement was founded in reaction to the use of Dutch in sermons of Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
es in Fryslân. The Frisian movement has links with the reformed Anti Revolutionary Party
Anti Revolutionary Party
The Anti Revolutionary Party was a Dutch Protestant Christian democratic political party. The ARP is one of the predecessors of the Christian Democratic Appeal. After 1917 the party never received more than twenty percent of the vote.-History before 1879:The anti-revolutionary parliamentary caucus...
, but in the 1962 provincial elections it claimed that Frisian interests were less important than Dutch national interests.
In 1966, it won its first seat in the provincial legislature and municipal councils. In 1995, it cooperated with provincial parties and the Greens
The Greens (Netherlands)
The Greens are a Dutch deep green party, which has been of only marginal importance in Dutch politics, as it has never gained national representation on its own.-History:...
to get a seat in the Senate, which is elected indirectly, in the so-called Independent Senate Group. Between 1995 and 2003, it was taken by a member of the Greens, since 2003 it is taken by a member of the FNP.
Ideology and issues
The FNP is a leftwing nationalist party, which advocates a federalistFederalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
political system in which Frisians get more autonomy. It calls for greater autonomy of the region, government use, protection and recognition of the Frisian language and Frisian control over its gas reserve
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
s.
Representation
Since 1995 the party cooperated with several provincial parties and the GreensThe Greens (Netherlands)
The Greens are a Dutch deep green party, which has been of only marginal importance in Dutch politics, as it has never gained national representation on its own.-History:...
in the Independent Senate Fraction
Independent Senate Fraction
The Independent Senate Group is a parliamentary party in the Dutch Senate with one senator, representing several provincial parties. The Dutch Senate is elected by the legislatures of the provinces. In 1995, several provincial parties and the Greens proposed their own list. Marten Bierman, who...
which had one seat in the Senate. Since 2003 this seat is taken by Hendrik ten Hoeve, a member of the FNP.
The party has five (out of 43) seats in the Frisian provincial legislative. It entered in the formation talks of a new provincial government, but chose to remain an opposition party.
The party has 62 members in 20 of the 31 Frisian local legislatives. It cooperates in the local executive of Wymbritseradiel
Wymbritseradiel
Wymbritseradiel is a former municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Its official name was in West Frisian, but the municipality was also known by its Dutch name Wymbritseradeel...
, Gaasterlân-Sleat
Gaasterlân-Sleat
Gaasterlân-Sleat is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. Its official name is in West Frisian. The name in Dutch is Gaasterland-Sloten .- Population centres :...
, Skarsterlân
Skarsterlân
Skarsterlân is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. The municipality was created January 1, 1984 by merging the municipalities of Doniawerstal and Haskerland, the part of Utingeradeel consisting of the villages Akmarijp and Terkaple and the village Nieuwebrug that used...
2x, Tytsjerksteradiel
Tytsjerksteradiel
Tytsjerksteradiel is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. It is named after the town of Tytsjerk, whose name is derived from a person named Tiete. Tiete was a daughter of Tryn, after whom the region is named...
, Ferwerderadiel
Ferwerderadiel
Ferwerderadiel is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. Its official name is West Frisian. The Dutch name is Ferwerderadeel.- Population centres :...
, Littenseradiel
Littenseradiel
Littenseradiel is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. In Dutch it's known as Littenseradeel.- Population centers :Baaium, Baard, Bears, Boazum, Britswert, Easterein, Easterlittens, Easterwierrum, Hidaard, Hilaard, Hinnaard, Húns, Iens, Itens, Jellum, Jorwert, Kûbaard, Leons, Lytsewierrum,...
, Achtkarspelen
Achtkarspelen
-History:The name Achtkarspelen is derived from the original eight kerspelen within the grietenij, namely: Augustinusga, Buitenpost, Drogeham, De Kooten, Kortwoude, Lutkepost, Surhuizum and Twijzel. Achtkarspelen held a separate status within Friesland for many years...
, Leeuwarderadeel
Leeuwarderadeel
Leeuwarderadeel is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. Its capital is Stiens.- Population centres :Bartlehiem, Britsum, Cornjum, Finkum, Hijum, Jelsum, Oude Leije, Stiens.- Bartlehiem :...
and Dongeradeel
Dongeradeel
- History :Dongeradeel was created in 1984 from a merger of the old municipalities Westdongeradeel, Oostdongeradeel, and Dokkum. The new municipality is still colloquially referred to in the plural, "de Dongeradelen".- Population centres :...
. In Wûnseradiel
Wûnseradiel
Wûnseradiel is a former municipality in the Friesland province of the northern Netherlands, at the eastern end of the Afsluitdijk. The official name of the municipality is in the West Frisian language, though it is known as Wonseradeel in Dutch...
the party supplies the mayor.
On the European level, the party is a member of the European Free Alliance
European Free Alliance
The European Free Alliance is a European political party. It consists of various national-level political parties in Europe which advocate either full political independence , or some form of devolution or self-governance for their country or region...
, although it has no seats in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
Electorate
The party's electorate is limited to Fryslân, where it dominates in the Western and North-Eastern part of the mainland of the province. In the rural LittenseradielLittenseradiel
Littenseradiel is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. In Dutch it's known as Littenseradeel.- Population centers :Baaium, Baard, Bears, Boazum, Britswert, Easterein, Easterlittens, Easterwierrum, Hidaard, Hilaard, Hinnaard, Húns, Iens, Itens, Jellum, Jorwert, Kûbaard, Leons, Lytsewierrum,...
the FNP got nearly 28% of the votes and became the largest party in 2003.
In 2010 33.9% of the people voted FNP in the rural Skarsterlân
Skarsterlân
Skarsterlân is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. The municipality was created January 1, 1984 by merging the municipalities of Doniawerstal and Haskerland, the part of Utingeradeel consisting of the villages Akmarijp and Terkaple and the village Nieuwebrug that used...
Relationships to other parties
The party has good relations with other provincial parties like Party New LimburgParty New Limburg
The Party New Limburg is a provincial political party in the Dutch province of Limburg. It has no parliamentary representation, but it is linked to the Independent Senate Group....
with which it together forms the Independent Senate Group. Historically it cooperated very well with the Political Party of Radicals, a left-wing Christian party.
External links
- FNP official site