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Labour Party (Netherlands)
Encyclopedia
The Labour Party is a social-democratic
political party
in the Netherlands
. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election
, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition
member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet
following 22 February 2007. On 20 February 2010, the party withdrew from the government after arguments over the Dutch role in Afghanistan
, leading to the 2010 Dutch General Election
. The Labour Party is currently in opposition
to the governing Rutte cabinet.
(SDAP), the minor left-liberal Free-thinking Democratic League (VDB) and the small social-Protestant
Christian Democratic Union
(CDU). They were joined by individuals from Catholic resistance group
Christofoor and the Protestant
parties Christian Historical Union
(CHU) and Anti Revolutionary Party
(ARP).
The founders of the PvdA wanted to create a broad party
, breaking with the historic tradition of Pillarisation
. This desire to come to a new political system was called the Doorbraak. The party combined socialist
ideals with liberal
, religious and humanist
ideas. However, the party was unable to break pillarisation. Instead the new party renewed the close ties that SDAP had with other socialist organisations (see linked organisations). In 1948 some liberal members, led by former VDB leader Pieter Oud
, left the PvdA because they were unhappy with the socialist course of the PvdA. Together with the Freedom Party
, they formed the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
(VVD), a conservative-liberal
party.
Between 1946 and 1958, the PvdA formed coalition government
s with the Catholic People's Party
(KVP), and combinations of VVD, ARP and CHU. The KVP and the PvdA together had a large majority in parliament. Since 1948, these cabinets were led by PvdA Prime Minister Willem Drees
. Under his leadership the Netherlands recovered from the war, began to build its welfare state
and Indonesia
became independent
.
After the cabinet crisis of 1958, the PvdA was replaced by the VVD. The PvdA was in opposition until 1965. The electoral support of PvdA voters began to decline.
, Christian-influenced parties turned towards the PvdA. Together they formed the Cals cabinet. This cabinet was also short lived and conflict ridden. The conflicts culminated in the fall of the Cals cabinet over economic policy
.
Meanwhile, a younger generation was attempting to gain control of the PvdA. A group of young PvdA members, calling themselves the New Left, changed the party. The New Left wanted to reform the PvdA: they believed the party should become oriented towards the new social movements
, adopting their anti-parliamentary strategies and their issues, such as women's liberation
, environment
al conservation and Third World
development. Prominent New Left members were Jan Nagel
, André van der Louw
and Bram Peper
. One of their early victories followed the fall of the Cals cabinet. The party Congress adopted a motion that made it impossible for the PvdA to govern with the KVP and its Protestant allies. In response to the growing power of the New Left group, a group of older, centrist
party members, led by Willem Drees' son, Willem Drees Junior founded the New Right. In 1970, it was clear that they lost the conflict within the party and left, founding the party Democratic Socialists '70 (DS70).
Under the New Left, the PvdA started a strategy of polarisation, striving for a cabinet based on a progressive majority in parliament. In order to form that cabinet the PvdA allied itself with the social-liberal
party Democrats 66
(D66) and the progressive Christian Political Party of Radicals (PPR). The alliance was called the Progressive Accord (PAK). In the 1971
and 1972 elections
, these three parties promised to form a cabinet with a radical common program after the elections. They were unable to gain a majority in either election. In 1971, they were kept out of cabinet, and the party of former PvdA members, DS70, became a partner of the First Biesheuvel cabinet.
In the 1972 elections, neither the PvdA and its allies or the KVP and its allies were able to gain a majority. The two sides were forced to work together. Joop den Uyl
, the leader of the PvdA, led the cabinet. The cabinet was an extra-parliamentary cabinet
and it was composed of members of the three progressive parties and members of the KVP and the ARP. The cabinet attempted to radically reform government, society and the economy, and a wide range of progressive social reforms were enacted during its time in office, such as significant increases in welfare payments and the indexation of benefits and the minimum wage to the cost of living.
However, it also faced economic decline and was riddled with personal and ideological conflicts. Especially, the relationship between Prime Minister Den Uyl and the KVP Deputy Prime Minister
, Van Agt
was very problematic. The conflict culminated just before the 1977 elections, the cabinet fell. The 1977 general election
were won by the PvdA, but the ideological and personal conflict between Van Agt and Den Uyl prevented the formation of a new centre-left cabinet. After very long cabinet formation talks, the Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA), itself a new Christian democratic
political formation composed of KVP, CHU and ARP, formed government with the VVD, based on a very narrow majority. The PvdA was left in opposition.
In the 1981 general election
, the incumbent CDA-VVD cabinet lost their majority. The CDA remained the largest party, but it was forced to co-operate with the PvdA and D66 (the PPR had left the alliance, after losing the 1977 elections). In the new cabinet led by Van Agt, Den Uyl returned to cabinet, now as Deputy Prime Minister. The personal and ideological conflict between Van Agt and Den Uyl culminated in the fall of the cabinet just months after it was formed. The VVD and the CDA regained their majority in the 1982 general election
and retained it in the 1986 general election
. The PvdA was left in opposition. During this period, the party began to reform. In 1986, Den Uyl left politics, appointing former trade union
leader Wim Kok
as his successor.
After the 1989 general election
, the PvdA returned to cabinet together with the CDA. Kok became Deputy Prime Minister to CDA leader Ruud Lubbers
. The PvdA accepted the major economic reforms the previous Lubbers cabinets made, including privatisation
of public enterprise
s and reform of the welfare state
. They continued these policies in this cabinet. The cabinet faced heavy protest from the unions and saw major political conflict within the PvdA itself.
In the 1994 general election
, the PvdA and CDA coalition lost its majority in parliament. The PvdA however emerged as the biggest party. Kok formed a government together with the conservative-liberal VVD and social-liberal D66. The so-called purple government
was a political novelty, because the Christian Democrats had been in government since 1918. The first Kok cabinet continued the economic reforms, but combined this with a progressive outlook on ethical questions and promises of political reform. Kok became very popular prime minister. Kok was not a partisan figure, but combined successful technocratic
policies with the charisma of a national leader. In the 1998 general election
, the cabinet was rewarded for its stewardship of the economy. The PvdA and the VVD increased their seats, at the cost of D66.
The PvdA was expected to perform very well in the 2002 general election
. Kok left politics leaving the leadership of the party to his preferred successor Ad Melkert
. But the political rise of Pim Fortuyn
frustrated these hopes. The PvdA lost the 2002 elections, and the party's parliamentary representation fell from 45 seats to 23. The loss was blamed on the uncharismatic new leader Melkert, the perceived arrogance of the PvdA and the inability to answer to the right-wing populist
issues Fortuyn raised, especially immigration
and integration
. Melkert resigned as party leader and was replaced by Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven
. The PvdA was kept out of cabinet. The government formed by CDA, VVD and the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) fell after a very short period.
Meanwhile, Wouter Bos
, State Secretary
in the second purple cabinet, was elected leader of the PvdA in a referendum among PvdA members, being elected closely to Jouke de Vries
. He started to democratise the party organisation and began an ideological reorientation. In the 2003 elections, Wouter Bos managed to regain almost all seats lost in the previous election, and the PvdA was once again the second largest party of the Netherlands, only slightly smaller than the CDA. Personal and ideological conflicts between Bos and the CDA leader Jan Peter Balkenende
prevented the formation of a CDA-PvdA cabinet. Instead, the PvdA was kept out of government by the formation of cabinet of the CDA, the VVD, and D66, the latter being former allies of PvdA. In the 2006 municipal elections
, the renewed PvdA performed very well. The PvdA became by far the largest party nationally, while the three governing parties lost a considerable number of seats in municipal councils.
It was expected that the PvdA would do well in the upcoming 2006 elections
, but the party lost the race for Prime Minister
to the Christian Democratic Appeal
after suffering a loss of 9 seats. The PvdA now held only 33 seats, losing many votes to the Socialist Party
. The PvdA had previously distanced themselves from the idea of a voting bloc on the left. It did however join the fourth Balkenende cabinet
in which Wouter Bos became minister of Finance
. In the aftermath of the lost elections the entire party executive stepped down on 26 April 2007. On Saturday 20 February 2010, the Labour Party withdrew from the government after arguments over Afghanistan.
After withdrawing from the government, Wouter Bos announced he would leave politics to spend more time with his wife and two daughters. Then mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen
, took his place as leader of the PvdA.
party, committed to building a welfare state
. During the 1970s, it radicalised its program and included new issues, such as women's liberation, environmental conservation and Third World development. During the 1990s, it moderated its program, including reform of the welfare state and privatisation of public enterprise. In 2005, the party adopted a new program of principles, expressing a centre-left
ideology. Its core issues are employment
, social security
and welfare
, and investing in public education
, public safety
and health care
.
1: In combined PvdA/PPR groups (estimate).
, the party has 30 representatives in the House of Representatives:
, the party has 14 representatives in the Senate:
, the parliamentary group of the Party of European Socialists
.
After the 2009 European Parliament elections
, the party has 3 representatives in the European Parliament
:
s are members of the PvdA (Drenthe
, Flevoland
and Groningen
). The party cooperates in seven States Deputed
(Groningen
, Friesland
, Drenthe
, Gelderland
, Flevoland
, North Holland
and Zeeland
).
, mayor of Rotterdam
. The party cooperates in many municipal executives
, among others the big four (Amsterdam
, Rotterdam
, The Hague
and Utrecht
). The PvdA obtained 1,251 seats in the 2010 municipal elections (minus 7.66%).
. Currently the party is supported relatively well by civil servants, migrants
, and the working class. The party has historically been very strong in the major cities, such as Amsterdam
, and Rotterdam
and in the northern provinces of Groningen
, Friesland
and Drenthe
, formed by delegates from the municipal branches. It convenes once every year. It appoints the party board, decides the order of candidates on electoral lists for the Senate, House of Representatives and European Parliament and has the final say over the party program. Since 2002, a referendum
of all members has partially replaced the Congress. Both the lijsttrekker
of the House of Representatives candidate list, who is the political leader of the party, and the party chairman, who leads the party organisation, are selected by such a referendum. In 2002, Wouter Bos won the PvdA leadership election
.
(Jonge Socialisten, JS) is the youth organisation of the PvdA. It is a member of ECOSY – Young European Socialists
and the International Union of Socialist Youth
(IUSY). They publish the periodical Lava.
Rood is the party periodical. It appears eight times a year.
The scientific institute (or think tank
) of the PvdA is the Wiardi Beckman Foundation
. It publishes the periodical Socialisme & Democratie.
The PvdA participates in the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
, a democracy assistance organisation of seven Dutch political parties.
and the Socialist International
.
the PvdA had strong links with the social-democratic broadcasting organisation VARA Broadcasting Association, the Dutch Association of Trade Unions
, and the paper Het Vrije Volk
. Although pillarisation has weakened, the PvdA still has friendly relations with the largest trade union FNV
and the leftwing broadsheet De Volkskrant
.
Historically, the PvdA has co-operated in cabinets with the Christian-democratic Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA), Political Party of Radicals (PPR), Catholic People's Party
(KVP), Anti Revolutionary Party
(ARP), Christian Historical Union
(CHU) and ChristianUnion
(CU) parties and the liberal parties Democrats 66
(D66) and People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
(VVD). Between 1971 and 1977, PvdA was allied with D66 and the PPR. After 1977 until 1989, it was closely allied to D66. Since 2003, the relationship between the PvdA and D66 has considerably worsened, at first because PvdA was in opposition to the Second Balkenende cabinet
which D66 had co-operated in.
During the governance of the second
and third Balkenende cabinet
, the Socialist Party
and the GreenLeft
were calling for closer cooperation with the PvdA, calling to form a shadow government against the Balkenende cabinet, PvdA leader Bos held this off.
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
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
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...
. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election
Dutch general election, 2003
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on January 22, 2003.-Background:...
, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet
Fourth Balkenende cabinet
The fourth Balkenende cabinet or Balkenende IV is the previous Dutch coalition cabinet formed by the political parties Christian Democratic Appeal , Labour Party , and ChristianUnion . The cabinet succeeded the third Balkenende cabinet following the 2006 election, and was installed by Queen Beatrix...
following 22 February 2007. On 20 February 2010, the party withdrew from the government after arguments over the Dutch role in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, leading to the 2010 Dutch General Election
Dutch general election, 2010
The 2010 Dutch general election was held on Wednesday, 9 June 2010. After the fall of the cabinet Balkenende IV on 20 February, Queen Beatrix accepted the resignation of the Labour Party ministers on 23 February...
. The Labour Party is currently in opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
to the governing Rutte cabinet.
1945–1965
The Labour Party (PvdA) was founded on 9 February 1946, through a merger of three parties: the Social Democratic Workers' PartySocial Democratic Workers' Party (Netherlands)
The Social Democratic Workers' Party was a Dutch socialist political party and a predecessor of the social-democratic PvdA.-1893-1904:...
(SDAP), the minor left-liberal Free-thinking Democratic League (VDB) and the small social-Protestant
Christian left
The Christian left is a term originating in the United States, used to describe a spectrum of left-wing Christian political and social movements which largely embraces social justice....
Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Netherlands)
The Christian-Democratic Union was a minor Christian left party in the Netherlands in the interbellum.-History:...
(CDU). They were joined by individuals from Catholic resistance group
Resistance during World War II
Resistance movements during World War II occurred in every occupied country by a variety of means, ranging from non-cooperation, disinformation and propaganda to hiding crashed pilots and even to outright warfare and the recapturing of towns...
Christofoor and the Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
parties Christian Historical Union
Christian Historical Union
The Christian Historical Union was a Dutch conservative Protestant political party. The CHU is one of the predecessors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.-History before 1908:...
(CHU) and 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...
(ARP).
The founders of the PvdA wanted to create a broad party
Big tent
In politics, a big tent party or catch-all party is a political party seeking to attract people with diverse viewpoints. The party does not require adherence to some ideology as a criterion for membership...
, breaking with the historic tradition of Pillarisation
Pillarisation
Pillarisation is a term used to describe the politico-denominational segregation of Dutch and Belgian society. These societies were "vertically" divided into several segments or "pillars" according to different religions or ideologies.These pillars all had their own social institutions: their own...
. This desire to come to a new political system was called the Doorbraak. The party combined socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
ideals with liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
, religious and humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
ideas. However, the party was unable to break pillarisation. Instead the new party renewed the close ties that SDAP had with other socialist organisations (see linked organisations). In 1948 some liberal members, led by former VDB leader Pieter Oud
Pieter Oud
Pieter Jacobus Oud was a prominent liberal Dutch politician who served held numerous political offices, including member of the House of Representatives, Minister of Finance and Mayor of Rotterdam. He was one of the founding member of the Dutch Labour Party and the People's Party for Freedom and...
, left the PvdA because they were unhappy with the socialist course of the PvdA. Together with the Freedom Party
Freedom Party (Netherlands)
The Freedom Party was a short lived Dutch liberal political party. The PvdV was a predecessor of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.-Party History:...
, they formed the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
(VVD), a conservative-liberal
Conservative liberalism
Conservative liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal values and policies with conservative stances, or, more simply, representing the right-wing of the liberal movement....
party.
Between 1946 and 1958, the PvdA formed coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
s with 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...
(KVP), and combinations of VVD, ARP and CHU. The KVP and the PvdA together had a large majority in parliament. Since 1948, these cabinets were led by PvdA Prime Minister Willem Drees
Willem Drees
Willem Drees was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 7, 1948 until December 22, 1958....
. Under his leadership the Netherlands recovered from the war, began to build its welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
and 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...
became independent
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
.
After the cabinet crisis of 1958, the PvdA was replaced by the VVD. The PvdA was in opposition until 1965. The electoral support of PvdA voters began to decline.
1965–1989
In 1965 a conflict in the KVP-ARP-CHU-VVD cabinet made continuation of the government impossible. The three confessionalConfessionalism (politics)
Confessionalism is a system of government that refers to de jure mix of religion and politics. It can mean distributing political and institutional power proportionally among religious communities.-Debate:...
, Christian-influenced parties turned towards the PvdA. Together they formed the Cals cabinet. This cabinet was also short lived and conflict ridden. The conflicts culminated in the fall of the Cals cabinet over economic policy
Economic policy
Economic policy refers to the actions that governments take in the economic field. It covers the systems for setting interest rates and government budget as well as the labor market, national ownership, and many other areas of government interventions into the economy.Such policies are often...
.
Meanwhile, a younger generation was attempting to gain control of the PvdA. A group of young PvdA members, calling themselves the New Left, changed the party. The New Left wanted to reform the PvdA: they believed the party should become oriented towards the new social movements
New social movements
The term new social movements is a theory of social movements that attempts to explain the plethora of new movements that have come up in various western societies roughly since the mid-1960s which are claimed to depart significantly from the conventional social movement paradigm.There are two...
, adopting their anti-parliamentary strategies and their issues, such as women's liberation
Feminist movement
The feminist movement refers to a series of campaigns for reforms on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage, sexual harassment and sexual violence...
, environment
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
al conservation and Third World
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
development. Prominent New Left members were Jan Nagel
Jan Nagel
Johan George Nagel is a Dutch politician first of the Labour Party, and later for his own formed parties. Currently for the Pensioners' Party 50PLUS....
, André van der Louw
André van der Louw
André van der Louw was a Labour Party politician. He served as Mayor of Rotterdam from 1974 to 1981 and served in the Netherlands cabinet Van Agt-2....
and Bram Peper
Bram Peper
Abraham Peper is a Dutch sociologist and former politician. Peper was Mayor of Rotterdam and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and is member of the Dutch Labour Party ....
. One of their early victories followed the fall of the Cals cabinet. The party Congress adopted a motion that made it impossible for the PvdA to govern with the KVP and its Protestant allies. In response to the growing power of the New Left group, a group of older, centrist
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
party members, led by Willem Drees' son, Willem Drees Junior founded the New Right. In 1970, it was clear that they lost the conflict within the party and left, founding the party Democratic Socialists '70 (DS70).
Under the New Left, the PvdA started a strategy of polarisation, striving for a cabinet based on a progressive majority in parliament. In order to form that cabinet the PvdA allied itself with the social-liberal
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
party Democrats 66
Democrats 66
Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
(D66) and the progressive Christian Political Party of Radicals (PPR). The alliance was called the Progressive Accord (PAK). In the 1971
Dutch general election, 1971
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on April 28, 1971.-National summary:turnout: 79.1%...
and 1972 elections
Dutch general election, 1972
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 29, 1972.-National summary:...
, these three parties promised to form a cabinet with a radical common program after the elections. They were unable to gain a majority in either election. In 1971, they were kept out of cabinet, and the party of former PvdA members, DS70, became a partner of the First Biesheuvel cabinet.
Joop den Uyl
Johannes Marten den Uijl, known as Joop den Uyl was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from May 11, 1973 until December 19, 1977....
, the leader of the PvdA, led the cabinet. The cabinet was an extra-parliamentary cabinet
Cabinet of the Netherlands
The cabinet of the Netherlands is the main executive body of the Dutch government. The current cabinet of the Netherlands is the Rutte cabinet.-Composition and role:...
and it was composed of members of the three progressive parties and members of the KVP and the ARP. The cabinet attempted to radically reform government, society and the economy, and a wide range of progressive social reforms were enacted during its time in office, such as significant increases in welfare payments and the indexation of benefits and the minimum wage to the cost of living.
However, it also faced economic decline and was riddled with personal and ideological conflicts. Especially, the relationship between Prime Minister Den Uyl and the KVP Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the official Deputy of the Head of Government of the Netherlands. In the absence of the Prime Minister the deputy prime minister takes over his functions, such as chairing the Cabinet of the Netherlands...
, Van Agt
Dries van Agt
Andreas Antonius Maria "Dries" van Agt is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from December 19, 1977, until November 4, 1982....
was very problematic. The conflict culminated just before the 1977 elections, the cabinet fell. The 1977 general election
Dutch general election, 1977
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 25, 1977....
were won by the PvdA, but the ideological and personal conflict between Van Agt and Den Uyl prevented the formation of a new centre-left cabinet. After very long cabinet formation talks, the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
(CDA), itself a new Christian democratic
Christian 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...
political formation composed of KVP, CHU and ARP, formed government with the VVD, based on a very narrow majority. The PvdA was left in opposition.
In the 1981 general election
Dutch general election, 1981
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 26, 1981.-National summary:...
, the incumbent CDA-VVD cabinet lost their majority. The CDA remained the largest party, but it was forced to co-operate with the PvdA and D66 (the PPR had left the alliance, after losing the 1977 elections). In the new cabinet led by Van Agt, Den Uyl returned to cabinet, now as Deputy Prime Minister. The personal and ideological conflict between Van Agt and Den Uyl culminated in the fall of the cabinet just months after it was formed. The VVD and the CDA regained their majority in the 1982 general election
Dutch general election, 1982
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on September 8, 1982.-National summary:...
and retained it in the 1986 general election
Dutch general election, 1986
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 21, 1986.-National summary:...
. The PvdA was left in opposition. During this period, the party began to reform. In 1986, Den Uyl left politics, appointing former trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader Wim Kok
Wim Kok
Willem "Wim" Kok ; born September 29, 1938) is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 22, 1994 until July 22, 2002....
as his successor.
1989–present
Dutch general election, 1989
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on September 6, 1989.-National summary:...
, the PvdA returned to cabinet together with the CDA. Kok became Deputy Prime Minister to CDA leader Ruud Lubbers
Ruud Lubbers
Rudolphus Franciscus Marie "Ruud" Lubbers is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from November 4, 1982 until August 22, 1994....
. The PvdA accepted the major economic reforms the previous Lubbers cabinets made, including privatisation
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
of public enterprise
Government-owned corporation
A government-owned corporation, state-owned company, state-owned entity, state enterprise, publicly owned corporation, government business enterprise, or parastatal is a legal entity created by a government to undertake commercial activities on behalf of an owner government...
s and reform of the welfare state
Welfare reform
Welfare reform refers to the process of reforming the framework of social security and welfare provisions, but what is considered reform is a matter of opinion. The term was used in the United States to support the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act...
. They continued these policies in this cabinet. The cabinet faced heavy protest from the unions and saw major political conflict within the PvdA itself.
In the 1994 general election
Dutch general election, 1994
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 3, 1994.-Results:...
, the PvdA and CDA coalition lost its majority in parliament. The PvdA however emerged as the biggest party. Kok formed a government together with the conservative-liberal VVD and social-liberal D66. The so-called purple government
Purple (government)
Purple is a common term in politics for governments or other political entities consisting of parties that have red and blue as their political colours...
was a political novelty, because the Christian Democrats had been in government since 1918. The first Kok cabinet continued the economic reforms, but combined this with a progressive outlook on ethical questions and promises of political reform. Kok became very popular prime minister. Kok was not a partisan figure, but combined successful technocratic
Technocracy (bureaucratic)
Technocracy is a form of government where technical experts are in control of decision making in their respective fields. Economists, engineers, scientists, health professionals, and those who have knowledge, expertise or skills would compose the governing body...
policies with the charisma of a national leader. In the 1998 general election
Dutch general election, 1998
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on 6 May 1998.-Result:...
, the cabinet was rewarded for its stewardship of the economy. The PvdA and the VVD increased their seats, at the cost of D66.
The PvdA was expected to perform very well in the 2002 general election
Dutch general election, 2002
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 15, 2002....
. Kok left politics leaving the leadership of the party to his preferred successor Ad Melkert
Ad Melkert
Adrianus Petrus Wilhelmus "Ad" Melkert is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as chair of the parliamentary party and Minister of Social Affairs and Employment for the social-democratic PvdA. He led the PvdA to a historic low in the contentious 2002 general elections, which were won...
. But the political rise of Pim Fortuyn
Pim Fortuyn
Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuijn, known as Pim Fortuyn was a Dutch politician, civil servant, sociologist, author and professor who formed his own party, Pim Fortuyn List ....
frustrated these hopes. The PvdA lost the 2002 elections, and the party's parliamentary representation fell from 45 seats to 23. The loss was blamed on the uncharismatic new leader Melkert, the perceived arrogance of the PvdA and the inability to answer to the right-wing populist
Right-wing populism
Right-wing populism is a political ideology that rejects existing political consensus and combines laissez-faire liberalism and anti-elitism. It is considered "right-wing" because of its rejection of social equality and government programs to achieve it, its opposition to social integration, and...
issues Fortuyn raised, especially immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
and integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
. Melkert resigned as party leader and was replaced by Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven
Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven
Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven is a Dutch politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives for over 20 years for the social-democratic PvdA, and its chair for four years.-Before entering politics:...
. The PvdA was kept out of cabinet. The government formed by CDA, VVD and the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) fell after a very short period.
Meanwhile, Wouter Bos
Wouter Bos
Wouter Jacob Bos is a Dutch management consultant and former politician of the Labour Party . He was Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet Balkenende IV from February 22, 2007 till February 23, 2010...
, State Secretary
State Secretary (Netherlands)
State Secretary is the title of a junior member of the Dutch or Belgian cabinet. Other terms for the title are deputy minister, junior minister or vice-minister...
in the second purple cabinet, was elected leader of the PvdA in a referendum among PvdA members, being elected closely to Jouke de Vries
Jouke de Vries
Jouke de Vries is a professor at Leiden University in Leiden.De Vries grew up in the village of Balk in Friesland and in 1979 started his studies in political science at the University of Amsterdam. He has been working at the group Leaderships Art at the University of Leiden since 1984. De Vries...
. He started to democratise the party organisation and began an ideological reorientation. In the 2003 elections, Wouter Bos managed to regain almost all seats lost in the previous election, and the PvdA was once again the second largest party of the Netherlands, only slightly smaller than the CDA. Personal and ideological conflicts between Bos and the CDA leader Jan Peter Balkenende
Jan Peter Balkenende
Jan Pieter "Jan Peter" Balkenende is a Dutch politician of the party Christian Democratic Appeal .He was the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 22 July 2002 until 14 October 2010, having led four coalition governments, cabinets Balkenende I, II, III and IV, none of which served a full...
prevented the formation of a CDA-PvdA cabinet. Instead, the PvdA was kept out of government by the formation of cabinet of the CDA, the VVD, and D66, the latter being former allies of PvdA. In the 2006 municipal elections
Dutch municipal elections, 2006
The Dutch municipal elections of 2006 were held on March 7, 2006. About 11.8 million people could vote in 419 municipalities. Due to local redistricting, 15 municipalities have already held elections in January 2006 and 24 municipalities will hold elections in November 2006...
, the renewed PvdA performed very well. The PvdA became by far the largest party nationally, while the three governing parties lost a considerable number of seats in municipal councils.
It was expected that the PvdA would do well in the upcoming 2006 elections
Dutch general election, 2006
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 22, 2006. And followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet....
, but the party lost the race for Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
to the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
after suffering a loss of 9 seats. The PvdA now held only 33 seats, losing many votes to the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Netherlands)
The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
. The PvdA had previously distanced themselves from the idea of a voting bloc on the left. It did however join the fourth Balkenende cabinet
Fourth Balkenende cabinet
The fourth Balkenende cabinet or Balkenende IV is the previous Dutch coalition cabinet formed by the political parties Christian Democratic Appeal , Labour Party , and ChristianUnion . The cabinet succeeded the third Balkenende cabinet following the 2006 election, and was installed by Queen Beatrix...
in which Wouter Bos became minister of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Netherlands)
The Ministry of Finance is the Dutch ministry of finance: it is occupied with the national budget, taxation and financial economic policy, including supervision of financial markets...
. In the aftermath of the lost elections the entire party executive stepped down on 26 April 2007. On Saturday 20 February 2010, the Labour Party withdrew from the government after arguments over Afghanistan.
After withdrawing from the government, Wouter Bos announced he would leave politics to spend more time with his wife and two daughters. Then mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen
Job Cohen
Marius Job Cohen is a Dutch social democratic politician and former legal scholar of Jewish background. Since 2010 he has been the leader of the Labour Party and since June 17, 2010 he has been a member of the House of Representatives, where he also is the Parliamentary group leader of the Labour...
, took his place as leader of the PvdA.
Ideology and issues
The PvdA began as a traditional social-democraticSocial democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
party, committed to building a welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
. During the 1970s, it radicalised its program and included new issues, such as women's liberation, environmental conservation and Third World development. During the 1990s, it moderated its program, including reform of the welfare state and privatisation of public enterprise. In 2005, the party adopted a new program of principles, expressing a centre-left
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
ideology. Its core issues are employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
, social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
and welfare
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
, and investing in public education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, public safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
and health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
.
Representation
| Year | HoR | S | EP 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... |
SP States-Provincial The States'-Provincial is the provincial parliament and legislative assembly in each of the Provinces of the Netherlands. It is elected for each province simultaneously once every four years and has the responsibility for matters of sub-national or regional importance... |
Fractievoorzitter | 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... |
Cabinet | Party Chair Party Chair In politics, a party chair is the presiding officer of a political party.... |
Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 Dutch general election, 1946 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on May 17, 1946.After the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II, parties that existed prior to the war underwent mergers and reorganizations.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti... |
29 | 14 | n/a | 157 | Marinus van der Goes van Naters Marinus van der Goes van Naters Jonkheer Marinus van der Goes van Naters was a Dutch nobleman and politician. He was born in Nijmegen. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1937 to 1967 and in-parliament chairman of the Social Democratic parties SDAP and its successor the Dutch Labour Party from 1945 to 1951... |
Several Willem Drees Willem Drees Willem Drees was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 7, 1948 until December 22, 1958.... , Jaap Burger Jaap Burger Jacobus Albertus Wilhelmus Burger was a Dutch politician.-References:... , Marinus van der Goes van Naters Marinus van der Goes van Naters Jonkheer Marinus van der Goes van Naters was a Dutch nobleman and politician. He was born in Nijmegen. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1937 to 1967 and in-parliament chairman of the Social Democratic parties SDAP and its successor the Dutch Labour Party from 1945 to 1951... , Dolf Joekes, Piet Lieftinck Piet Lieftinck Pieter Lieftinck was a Dutch civil servant, chief executive, professor and politician. He became minister of Finance in the following administrations Schermerhorn/Drees , Beel-1 , Drees/Van Schaik and Drees-2... , Sicco Mansholt Sicco Mansholt Sicco Leendert Mansholt was the fourth President of the European Commission in 1972–1973. He was the European Commissioner for Agriculture from 1958 until 1972.... , Willem Schermerhorn Willem Schermerhorn Willem "Wim" Schermerhorn was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1945 until 1946. He was the first Prime Minister after World War II. -Early life:... , Koos Vorrink Koos Vorrink Jacobus Jan Vorrink, better known as Koos Vorrink , was a charismatic socialist leader in the Netherlands.- Early life :Koos Vorrink was born on June 7, 1891 in Vlaardingen, in the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland.... and Hein Vos |
Willem Schermerhorn (PM Prime Minister of the Netherlands The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government... ) |
Koos Vorrink | 114558 |
| 1947 | 29 | 14 | n/a | 157 | Marinus van der Goes van Naters | no election | Willem Schermerhorn (PM) | Koos Vorrink | 108813 |
| 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... |
27 | 14 | n/a | 157 | Marinus van der Goes van Naters | Several Willem Drees, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, Dolf Joekes, Piet Lieftinck, Sicco Mansholt, Willem Schermerhorn, Koos Vorrink and Hein Vos | Willem Drees (PM) | Koos Vorrink | 117244 |
| 1949 | 27 | 14 | n/a | 157 | Marinus van der Goes van Naters | No election | Willem Drees (PM) | Koos Vorrink | 109608 |
| 1950 | 27 | 14 | n/a | 156 | Marinus van der Goes van Naters | No election | Willem Drees (PM) | Koos Vorrink | 105609 |
| 1951 | 27 | 14 | n/a | 156 | Leendert Donker | No election | Willem Drees (PM) | Koos Vorrink | 111885 |
| 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... |
30 | 14 | n/a | 156 | Jaap Burger Jaap Burger Jacobus Albertus Wilhelmus Burger was a Dutch politician.-References:... |
Willem Drees | Willem Drees (PM) | Koos Vorrink | 111351 |
| 1953 | 30 | 14 | n/a | 156 | Jaap Burger | no elections | Willem Drees (PM) | Hein Vos (interim) | 112823 |
| 1954 | 30 | 14 | n/a | 180 | Jaap Burger | no elections | Willem Drees (PM) | Hein Vos (interim) | 119561 |
| 1955 | 30 | 14 | n/a | 180 | Jaap Burger | no elections | Willem Drees (PM) | Evert Vermeer | 124641 |
| 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... |
34 | 22 | n/a | 180 | Jaap Burger | Willem Drees | Willem Drees (PM) | Evert Vermeer | 142140 |
| 1957 | 34 | 22 | n/a | 180 | Jaap Burger | no elections | Willem Drees (PM) | Evert Vermeer | 142849 |
| 1958 | 34 | 22 | n/a | 178 | Jaap Burger | no elections | Willem Drees (PM) | Evert Vermeer | 137778 |
| 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... |
48 | 22 | n/a | 178 | Jaap Burger | several Jaap Burger, H.J. Hofstra, Ivo Samkalden Ivo Samkalden Ivo Samkalden was a Dutch politician.-Source:* at the Institute of Netherlands History -References:... , Ko Suurhoff Ko Suurhoff Jacobus Gerardus Suurhoff was a Dutch politician.-References:... , Anne Vondeling Anne Vondeling Anne Vondeling was a member and former chairman of the Dutch Labour Party.He was minister in fourth Drees cabinet and vice prime minister in the Cals cabinet. Later he became President of Dutch House of Representatives, in which capacity he put much emphasis on the usage of correct and clear... and Joan Willems |
opposition | Evert Vermeer | 147047 |
| 1960 | 48 | 23 | n/a | 178 | Jaap Burger | no elections | opposition | Hein Vos (interim) | 142853 |
| 1961 | 48 | 23 | n/a | 178 | Jaap Burger | no elections | opposition | Ko Suurhoff | 138829 |
| 1962 | 48 | 23 | n/a | 207 | Jaap Burger | no elections | opposition | Ko Suurhoff | 139375 |
| 1963 Dutch general election, 1963 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on May 15, 1963.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
43 | 25 | n/a | 207 | Anne Vondeling Anne Vondeling Anne Vondeling was a member and former chairman of the Dutch Labour Party.He was minister in fourth Drees cabinet and vice prime minister in the Cals cabinet. Later he became President of Dutch House of Representatives, in which capacity he put much emphasis on the usage of correct and clear... |
several Ko Suurhoff, Anne Vondeling and Joan Willems | opposition | Ko Suurhoff | 138567 |
| 1964 | 43 | 25 | n/a | 207 | Anne Vondeling | No elections | opposition | Ko Suurhoff | 142426 |
| 1965 | 43 | 25 | n/a | 207 | Gerard Nederhorst | No elections | Anne Vondeling (VPM) | Sjeng Tans | 140389 |
| 1966 | 43 | 22 | n/a | 170 | Gerard Nederhorst | No elections | Opposition | Sjeng Tans | 134476 |
| 1967 Dutch general election, 1967 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on 15 February 1967.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
37 | 22 | n/a | 170 | Joop den Uyl Joop den Uyl Johannes Marten den Uijl, known as Joop den Uyl was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from May 11, 1973 until December 19, 1977.... |
Joop den Uyl | Opposition | Sjeng Tans | 130960 |
| 1968 | 37 | 22 | n/a | 170 | Joop den Uyl | No elections | Opposition | Sjeng Tans | 116736 |
| 1969 | 37 | 20 | n/a | 170 | Joop den Uyl | No elections | Opposition | Anne Vondeling | 107005 |
| 1970 | 37 | 20 | n/a | 172+711 | Joop den Uyl | No elections | Opposition | Anne Vondeling | 98671 |
| 1971 Dutch general election, 1971 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on April 28, 1971.-National summary:turnout: 79.1%... |
39 | 18 | n/a | 172+711 | Joop den Uyl | Joop den Uyl | Opposition | André van der Louw André van der Louw André van der Louw was a Labour Party politician. He served as Mayor of Rotterdam from 1974 to 1981 and served in the Netherlands cabinet Van Agt-2.... |
96337 |
| 1972 Dutch general election, 1972 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 29, 1972.-National summary:... |
43 | 18 | n/a | 172+711 | Joop den Uyl | Joop den Uyl | Opposition | André van der Louw | 94229 |
| 1973 | 43 | 18 | n/a | 172+711 | Ed van Thijn Ed van Thijn Eduard "Ed" van Thijn is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from February 23, 1967 until September 11, 1981. When Joop den Uyl became Prime Minister, Van Thijn became the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives,... |
No elections | Joop den Uyl (PM) | André van der Louw | 97787 |
| 1974 | 43 | 21 | n/a | 217+181 | Ed van Thijn | No elections | Joop den Uyl (PM) | Ien van den Heuvel-de Blank | 103140 |
| 1975 | 43 | 21 | n/a | 217+181 | Ed van Thijn | No elections | Joop den Uyl (PM) | Ien van den Heuvel-de Blank | 100524 |
| 1976 | 43 | 21 | n/a | 217+181 | Ed van Thijn | No elections | Joop den Uyl (PM) | Ien van den Heuvel-de Blank | 95548 |
| 1977 Dutch general election, 1977 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 25, 1977.... |
53 | 25 | n/a | 217+181 | Ed van Thijn | Joop den Uyl | Opposition | Ien van den Heuvel-de Blank | 109659 |
| 1978 | 53 | 25 | n/a | 254+161 | Joop den Uyl | No elections | Opposition | Ien van den Heuvel-de Blank | 121274 |
| 1979 | 53 | 25 | 9 | 254+161 | Joop den Uyl | No elections | Opposition | Max van den Berg | 118522 |
| 1980 | 53 | 26 | 9 | 254+161 | Joop den Uyl | No elections | Opposition | Max van den Berg | 112929 |
| 1981 Dutch general election, 1981 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 26, 1981.-National summary:... |
44 | 28 | 9 | 254+161 | Wim Meijer | Joop den Uyl | Joop den Uyl (VPM) | Max van den Berg | 109557 |
| 1982 Dutch general election, 1982 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on September 8, 1982.-National summary:... |
47 | 28 | 9 | 177+111 | Joop den Uyl | Joop den Uyl | Opposition | Max van den Berg | 105486 |
| 1983 | 47 | 27 | 9 | 177+111 | Joop den Uyl | No elections | Opposition | Max van den Berg | 101724 |
| 1984 | 47 | 27 | 9 | 177+111 | Joop den Uyl | No elections | Opposition | Max van den Berg | 99347 |
| 1985 | 47 | 27 | 9 | 177+111 | Joop den Uyl | No elections | Opposition | Max van den Berg | 100979 |
| 1986 Dutch general election, 1986 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 21, 1986.-National summary:... |
52 | 27 | 9 | 177 | Wim Kok Wim Kok Willem "Wim" Kok ; born September 29, 1938) is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 22, 1994 until July 22, 2002.... |
Joop den Uyl | Opposition | Stan Poppe (interim) | 103760 |
| 1987 | 52 | 26 | 9 | 262 | Wim Kok | No elections | Opposition | Marjanne Sint | 101019 |
| 1988 | 52 | 26 | 9 | 262 | Wim Kok | No elections | Opposition | Marjanne Sint | 96722 |
| 1989 Dutch general election, 1989 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on September 6, 1989.-National summary:... |
49 | 26 | 8 | 262 | Thijs Wöltgens Thijs Wöltgens Mathias Andreas Marie Wöltgens was a Dutch politician. He served as the mayor of the Kerkrade, a town on the German border in the southeast of the Netherlands, from 1994 until 2000. Wöltgens was also a Senator from 1995 until 2005.Thijs Wöltgens died in Kerkrade on 7 May 2008, at the age of 64 of... |
Wim Kok | Wim Kok (VPM) | Marjanne Sint | 96600 |
| 1990 | 49 | 26 | 8 | 262 | Thijs Wöltgens | No elections | Wim Kok (VPM) | Marjanne Sint | 91784 |
| 1991 | 49 | 16 | 8 | 166 | Thijs Wöltgens | No elections | Wim Kok (VPM) | Frits Castricum (interim) | 79059 |
| 1992 | 49 | 16 | 8 | 166 | Thijs Wöltgens | No elections | Wim Kok (VPM) | Felix Rottenberg Felix Rottenberg Felix Rottenberg is a Dutch politician.-References:... |
73807 |
| 1993 | 49 | 16 | 8 | 166 | Thijs Wöltgens | No elections | Wim Kok (VPM) | Felix Rottenberg | 69464 |
| 1994 Dutch general election, 1994 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 3, 1994.-Results:... |
37 | 16 | 8 | 166 | Jacques Wallage Jacques Wallage Jacques Wallage is a Dutch politician of Jewish descent. He has been the mayor of the city of Groningen from October 1, 1998 until June 25, 2009.... |
Wim Kok | Wim Kok (PM) | Felix Rottenberg | 68053 |
| 1995 | 37 | 14 | 8 | 142 | Jacques Wallage | No elections | Wim Kok (PM) | Felix Rottenberg | 64523 |
| 1996 | 37 | 14 | 8 | 142 | Jacques Wallage | No elections | Wim Kok (PM) | Ruud Vreeman (interim) | 60907 |
| 1997 | 37 | 14 | 8 | 142 | Jacques Wallage | No elections | Wim Kok (PM) | Karin Adelmund Karin Adelmund Karin Yvonne Irene Jansen Adelmund was a member of the Dutch House of Representatives and former State Secretary of Education, Culture and Science .From February 1997 to August 1998 Adelmund was chairwoman of the Labour Party .- External... |
61720 |
| 1998 Dutch general election, 1998 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on 6 May 1998.-Result:... |
45 | 14 | 8 | 142 | Ad Melkert Ad Melkert Adrianus Petrus Wilhelmus "Ad" Melkert is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as chair of the parliamentary party and Minister of Social Affairs and Employment for the social-democratic PvdA. He led the PvdA to a historic low in the contentious 2002 general elections, which were won... |
Wim Kok | Wim Kok (PM) | Ruud Vreeman (interim) | 61600 |
| 1999 | 45 | 15 | 6 | 154 | Ad Melkert | No elections | Wim Kok (PM) | Marijke van Hees | 60621 |
| 2000 | 45 | 15 | 6 | 154 | Ad Melkert | No elections | Wim Kok (PM) | Mariëtte Hamer Mariëtte Hamer Mariëtte Iris Hamer is a Dutch politician and former civil servant, educator and trade union leader. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since May 19, 1998. From January 2008 to June 2010 she was Parliamentary group leader. She focuses on matters of labour economics, day care and... (interim) |
57374 |
| 2001 | 45 | 15 | 6 | 154 | Ad Melkert | No elections | Wim Kok (PM) | Ruud Koole | 58426 |
| 2002 Dutch general election, 2002 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 15, 2002.... |
23 | 15 | 6 | 154 | Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven is a Dutch politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives for over 20 years for the social-democratic PvdA, and its chair for four years.-Before entering politics:... (interim) |
Ad Melkert | Opposition | Ruud Koole | 57374 |
| 2003 Dutch general election, 2003 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on January 22, 2003.-Background:... |
42 | 19 | 6 | 197 | Wouter Bos Wouter Bos Wouter Jacob Bos is a Dutch management consultant and former politician of the Labour Party . He was Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet Balkenende IV from February 22, 2007 till February 23, 2010... |
Wouter Bos | Opposition | Ruud Koole | 60062 |
| 2004 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 197 | Wouter Bos | No elections | Opposition | Ruud Koole | 61935 |
| 2005 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 197 | Wouter Bos | No elections | Opposition | Michiel van Hulten | 61111 |
| 2006 Dutch general election, 2006 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 22, 2006. And followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet.... |
33 | 19 | 7 | 197 | Wouter Bos | Wouter Bos | Opposition | Michiel van Hulten | 61913 |
| 2007 | 33 | 14 | 7 | 114 | Jacques Tichelaar Jacques Tichelaar Jacques Tichelaar is a Dutch politician and former trade union leader and educator. He is a member of the Labour Party . Since May 1, 2009 he has been the Queen's Commissioner of the Province of Drenthe... |
No elections | Wouter Bos (VPM) | Lilianne Ploumen Lilianne Ploumen Elisabeth Maria Josepha Ploumen is a Dutch politician and activist. She has been chairwoman of the Labour Party since October 6, 2007.... |
? |
| 2008 | 33 | 14 | 7 | 114 | Mariëtte Hamer Mariëtte Hamer Mariëtte Iris Hamer is a Dutch politician and former civil servant, educator and trade union leader. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since May 19, 1998. From January 2008 to June 2010 she was Parliamentary group leader. She focuses on matters of labour economics, day care and... |
No elections | Wouter Bos (VPM) | Lilianne Ploumen | ? |
| 2009 | 33 | 14 | 3 | 114 | Mariëtte Hamer | No elections | Wouter Bos (VPM) | Lilianne Ploumen | ? |
| 2010 Dutch general election, 2010 The 2010 Dutch general election was held on Wednesday, 9 June 2010. After the fall of the cabinet Balkenende IV on 20 February, Queen Beatrix accepted the resignation of the Labour Party ministers on 23 February... |
30 | 14 | 3 | 114 | Job Cohen Job Cohen Marius Job Cohen is a Dutch social democratic politician and former legal scholar of Jewish background. Since 2010 he has been the leader of the Labour Party and since June 17, 2010 he has been a member of the House of Representatives, where he also is the Parliamentary group leader of the Labour... |
Job Cohen | Opposition | Lilianne Ploumen | ? |
| 2011 | 30 | 14 | 3 | 107 | Job Cohen | No elections | Opposition | Lilianne Ploumen | ? |
1: In combined PvdA/PPR groups (estimate).
Members of the House of Representatives
After the 2010 electionDutch general election, 2010
The 2010 Dutch general election was held on Wednesday, 9 June 2010. After the fall of the cabinet Balkenende IV on 20 February, Queen Beatrix accepted the resignation of the Labour Party ministers on 23 February...
, the party has 30 representatives in the House of Representatives:
- Job CohenJob CohenMarius Job Cohen is a Dutch social democratic politician and former legal scholar of Jewish background. Since 2010 he has been the leader of the Labour Party and since June 17, 2010 he has been a member of the House of Representatives, where he also is the Parliamentary group leader of the Labour...
, Parliamentary group leaderParliamentary group leaderThe leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline... - Nebahat AlbayrakNebahat AlbayrakNebahat Albayrak is a Turkish-Dutch politician and former civil servant. As a member of the Dutch Labour Party she is a former State Secretary for Justice in the Netherlands. Since May 12, 2010 she has been an MP. From April till August 2011 she was on maternity leave...
- Khadija AribKhadija AribKhadija Arib is a Moroccan-Dutch politician and former civil servant, educator and social worker. As a member of the Dutch Labour Party she has been again an MP since March 1, 2007. Previously she was a member of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2006, focusing on health care issues...
- Lea BouwmeesterLea BouwmeesterLea Theodora Bouwmeester is a Dutch politician and former civil servant and social counselor. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since November 30, 2006...
- Metin ÇelikMetin ÇelikMetin Çelik is a Turkish-Dutch politician and former police officer. As a member of the Dutch Labour Party he has been an MP since June 17, 2010. He focuses on matters of primary, secondary and special education.Çelik is a former police officer of the city of Rotterdam and its suburbs...
- Martijn van DamMartijn van DamMartinus Hendricus Petrus van Dam is a Dutch engineer and politician for the Labour Party . He is a member of the House of Representatives and a former councillor for the municipality of Eindhoven...
- Tjeerd van DekkenTjeerd van DekkenTjeerd Rienk van Dekken is a Dutch politician and former communication employee. As a member of the Labour Party he has been an MP since June 17, 2010. He focuses on matters of sports policy and decline of population in more rural regions.From 1994 to 1998 he was chairman of the Young Socialists...
- Sharon DijksmaSharon DijksmaSharon Alida Maria Dijksma is a Dutch politician. As a member of the Labour Party she has been again an MP since June 17, 2010...
- Jeroen DijsselbloemJeroen DijsselbloemJeroen René Victor Anton Dijsselbloem is a Dutch politician and former civil servant. As a member of the Labour Party he has been again an MP since November 20, 2002. Previously he was a member of the House of Representatives from March 28, 2000 to May 23, 2002...
- Sjoera DikkersSjoera DikkersSjoerdtje Willemien Dikkers is a Dutch politician and former activist. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since June 17, 2010. She focuses on matters of development aid and commercial policy.- References : - External links :...
- Angelien EijsinkAngelien EijsinkAngeline Maria Catharina Eijsink is a Dutch politician and former civil servant and educator. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since January 30, 2003. She focuses on matters of the Dutch defense.- External links :...
- Ed GrootEd GrootVincentius Aloysius Groot is a Dutch politician and former journalist, columnist and civil servant. As a member of the Labour Party he has been an MP since June 17, 2010. He focuses on matters of taxes, government spending and finances.- References : - External links :...
- Mariëtte HamerMariëtte HamerMariëtte Iris Hamer is a Dutch politician and former civil servant, educator and trade union leader. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since May 19, 1998. From January 2008 to June 2010 she was Parliamentary group leader. She focuses on matters of labour economics, day care and...
- Pierre HeijnenPierre HeijnenPierre Maria Michel Heijnen is a Dutch politician and former civil servant. As a member of the Labour Party he has been an MP since March 1, 2007. He focuses on matters of local government, civil service personnel and finances.Heijnen studied Dutch language and Dutch literature at Utrecht...
- Lutz JacobiLutz JacobiLutske Jacobi is a Dutch politician and former civil servant. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since November 30, 2006. She focuses on matters of natural environment, rural area, agriculture, horticulture, fishery, recreation and the Wadden Sea.- External links :...
- Tanja JadnanansingTanja JadnanansingTanja Malti Jadnanansing is a Dutch politician and former television presenter and communication employee. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since June 17, 2010. She focuses on matters of higher education and science policy.Jadnanansing studied law at VU University Amsterdam...
- Jetta KlijnsmaJetta KlijnsmaJellejetta Klijnsma is a Dutch politician. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since June 17, 2010. She focuses on matters of culture, senior citizens, disabled people and medical ethics...
- Attje KuikenAttje KuikenAttje Harma Kuiken is a Dutch politician and former civil servant. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since November 30, 2006.- External links :...
- Ahmed MarcouchAhmed MarcouchAhmed Marcouch is a Moroccan-Dutch politician and former police officer, civil servant and educator. As a member of the Dutch Labour Party he has been an MP since June 17, 2010. He focuses on matters of community development...
- Jacques MonaschJacques MonaschJacques Simon Monasch is a Dutch politician, art collector and former management as well as political consultant and civil servant. As a member of the Labour Party he has been an MP since June 17, 2010...
- Ronald PlasterkRonald PlasterkRonald Hans Anton Plasterk is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He was Minister of Education, Culture and Science from February 22, 2007 until February 23, 2010 in the Cabinet Balkenende IV. He has been a Member of the House of Representatives since June 17, 2010. He focuses on matters of...
- Jeroen RecourtJeroen RecourtJeroen Recourt is a Dutch politician and former judge. As a member of the Labour Party he has been an MP since June 17, 2010. He focuses on matters of the judiciary and the Netherlands Antilles....
- Diederik Samsom
- Pauline SmeetsPauline SmeetsPauline Elisabeth Smeets is a Dutch politician. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since January 30, 2003. She focuses on matters of small and medium enterprises, corporate social responsibility, tourism, recreation and regional economic policy.- External links :...
- Hans SpekmanHans SpekmanJohannes Leonardus Spekman is a Dutch politician. As a member of the Labour Party he has been an MP since November 30, 2006...
- Frans Timmermans
- Eelke van der VeenEelke van der VeenEeke van der Veen is a Dutch politician. As a member of the Labour Party he has been an MP since November 30, 2006. He focuses on matters of public health.- External links :...
- Gerdi VerbeetGerdi VerbeetGerardina Alida Verbeet is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party and former political advisor, civil servant and educator. She has been President of the Dutch House of Representatives since December 6, 2006. She has been a member of the House of Representatives since July 26, 2002 and...
- Roos VermeijRoos VermeijRosemarijn Agnes Vermeij is a Dutch politician. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since November 30, 2006. She focuses on matters of employment and social security....
- Agnes WolbertAgnes WolbertAgnes Geziena Wolbert is a Dutch politician. As a member of the Labour Party she has been an MP since November 30, 2006. She focuses on matters of senior citizen policy, home care, and normal and special health care.- External links :...
Members of the Senate
Following the 2011 Senate electionDutch Senate election, 2011
The elections of the Dutch Senate of 2011 were held on 23 May 2011, following the provincial elections on 2 March 2011. The 566 members of the twelve States-Provincial elected the 75 Senate members...
, the party has 14 representatives in the Senate:
- Marleen BarthMarleen BarthMagdalena Antoinette Maria Barth is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party and trade unionist, and a former journalist.- Biography :...
, Senate group leaderParliamentary group leaderThe leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline... - Jannette Beuving
- Guusje ter HorstGuusje ter HorstGuus ter Horst, aka Guus ter Dorst is a Dutch politician of the Dutch Labour Party . Since June 7, 2011 she has been a member of the Senate. From February 22, 2007 till February 23, 2010 she was Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in the Cabinet Balkenende IV...
- Ruud Koole
- Marijke Linthorst
- Pauline Meurs
- Han Noten
- André Postema
- Kim Putters
- Nico Schrijver
- Esther-Mirjam Sent
- Joyce Sylvester
- Janny Vlietstra
- Klaas de Vries
Members of the European Parliament
PvdA MEPs sit as part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and DemocratsProgressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats is the social-democratic political group in the European Parliament, formed by MEPs of the Party of European Socialists and allied centre-left parties. The group dates its ancestry via various names back to the beginning of the European...
, the parliamentary group of the Party of European Socialists
Party of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
.
After the 2009 European Parliament elections
European Parliament election, 2009 (Netherlands)
The European Parliament election of 2009 in the Netherlands was the election of the delegation from the Netherlands to the European Parliament in 2009 and took place on June 4, 2009. Seventeen parties competed in a D'Hondt type election for 25 seats...
, the party has 3 representatives 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...
:
- Thijs Berman, leader of the PvdA delegation
- Emine BozkurtEmine BozkurtEmine Bozkurt is a Dutch politician of Turkish descent and Member of the European Parliament since 2004...
- Judith MerkiesJudith MerkiesJudith Merkies is a Dutch politician for the Labour Party .Judith Merkies graduated with a law degree from the University of Amsterdam and pursued a career as a lawyer before taking on post-graduate studies in European and International Law at the Free University Brussels...
Provincial government
Three of the twelve Queen's CommissionerQueen's Commissioner
The Queen's Commissioner is the head of a province in the Netherlands, who is chairman of both the Provinciale Staten and the Gedeputeerde Staten , but only has a right to vote in the latter...
s are members of the PvdA (Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
, Flevoland
Flevoland
Flevoland is a province of the Netherlands. Located in the centre of the country, at the location of the former Zuiderzee, the province was established on January 1, 1986; the twelfth province of the country, with Lelystad as its capital...
and Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
). The party cooperates in seven States Deputed
Gedeputeerde Staten
The gedeputeerde staten are the executive councillors of a Dutch province. Together with the Queen's Commissioner they form the College van Commissaris van de Koningin en Gedeputeerde Staten, which is the executive council of the province. States Deputed are elected by the States Provincial, the...
(Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
, Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
, Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
, Gelderland
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
, Flevoland
Flevoland
Flevoland is a province of the Netherlands. Located in the centre of the country, at the location of the former Zuiderzee, the province was established on January 1, 1986; the twelfth province of the country, with Lelystad as its capital...
, North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
and Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
).
Municipal government
100 of the 379 mayors of the Netherlands are members of the PvdA (September 2010). The best known of them is Ahmed AboutalebAhmed Aboutaleb
Ahmed Aboutaleb is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He has been the Mayor of Rotterdam since January 5, 2009...
, mayor of Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. The party cooperates in many municipal executives
College van Burgemeester en Wethouders
The college van burgemeester en wethouders is the executive board of a municipality in the Netherlands. This local government body plays a central role in municipal politics in the Netherlands. It consists of the mayor and the members of the municipal executive...
, among others the big four (Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, The Hague
The 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...
and Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
). The PvdA obtained 1,251 seats in the 2010 municipal elections (minus 7.66%).
Electorate
Historically, the PvdA was supported by the working classWorking class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
. Currently the party is supported relatively well by civil servants, migrants
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
, and the working class. The party has historically been very strong in the major cities, such as Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, and Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
and in the northern provinces of Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
, Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
and Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
Organisational structure
The highest organ of the PvdA is the CongressParty Congress
A party congress is a general conference of a political party. The congress is attended by delegates who represent the party membership. In most parties the party congress is the highest decision making body of the organisation and elects the party's leadership bodies such as the National Executive...
, formed by delegates from the municipal branches. It convenes once every year. It appoints the party board, decides the order of candidates on electoral lists for the Senate, House of Representatives and European Parliament and has the final say over the party program. Since 2002, a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
of all members has partially replaced the Congress. Both the 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...
of the House of Representatives candidate list, who is the political leader of the party, and the party chairman, who leads the party organisation, are selected by such a referendum. In 2002, Wouter Bos won the PvdA leadership election
2002 PvdA leadership election
Between 6 and November 12, 2002 the 60,000 members of the Dutch social-democratic Labour Party could vote for their preferred candidate for top candidate for the 2003 general election....
.
Members
The PvdA currently has 62,000 members. They are organised in over 500 municipal branches.Linked organisations
The Young SocialistsJonge Socialisten
The Dutch Young Socialists within the PvdA is the youth section of the Dutch social democratic party Partij van de Arbeid .JS used to be a democratic socialist organisation that promotes the full participation of young people in society. Since 2007 however, the JS is no longer a democratic...
(Jonge Socialisten, JS) is the youth organisation of the PvdA. It is a member of ECOSY – Young European Socialists
Ecosy
ECOSY - Young European Socialists is an association of social-democratic youth organisations in the European Union. The most widely accepted pronunciation of ECOSY is as a single word with short "e" and short "o"....
and the International Union of Socialist Youth
International Union of Socialist Youth
The International Union of Socialist Youth encompasses socialist, social democratic and Labour Party youth organizations from more than 100 states of the world...
(IUSY). They publish the periodical Lava.
Rood is the party periodical. It appears eight times a year.
The scientific institute (or think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
) of the PvdA is the Wiardi Beckman Foundation
Wiardi Beckman Stichting
The Wiardi Beckman Stichting is a Dutch think tank linked to the left-of-center Labour Party .The foundation is named after Herman Bernard Wiardi Beckman, a member of the Dutch Senate, who during the Second World War was summoned by Queen Wilhelmina to become a member of the war cabinet, but who...
. It publishes the periodical Socialisme & Democratie.
The PvdA participates in the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy is a democracy assistance organisation of political parties in the Netherlands for political parties in young democracies...
, a democracy assistance organisation of seven Dutch political parties.
International organisations
The PvdA is a full member of the Party of European SocialistsParty of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
and the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
.
Pillarised organisations
During the period of strong pillarisationPillarisation
Pillarisation is a term used to describe the politico-denominational segregation of Dutch and Belgian society. These societies were "vertically" divided into several segments or "pillars" according to different religions or ideologies.These pillars all had their own social institutions: their own...
the PvdA had strong links with the social-democratic broadcasting organisation VARA Broadcasting Association, the Dutch Association of Trade Unions
Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen
The Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen was a Dutch social-democratic trade union.-History:...
, and the paper Het Vrije Volk
Het Vrije Volk
Het Vrije Volk was a Dutch social-democratic daily newspaper. It was the successor, after World War II, of the socialist daily Het Volk.After World War II, it appeared legally 1 March 1945 in Eindhoven...
. Although pillarisation has weakened, the PvdA still has friendly relations with the largest trade union FNV
Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging
The Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging is a federation of trade unions of the Netherlands.-History:...
and the leftwing broadsheet De Volkskrant
De Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
.
Relationships to other parties
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
(CDA), Political Party of Radicals (PPR), 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...
(KVP), 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...
(ARP), Christian Historical Union
Christian Historical Union
The Christian Historical Union was a Dutch conservative Protestant political party. The CHU is one of the predecessors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.-History before 1908:...
(CHU) and ChristianUnion
ChristianUnion
The ChristianUnion , abbreviated to CU, is a Dutch Christian democratic political party. A centrist party, the CU's policies combine social conservatism and soft euroscepticism with more centre-left positions on economic, immigration, and environmental issues.Founded in 2000 as a merger of the...
(CU) parties and the liberal parties Democrats 66
Democrats 66
Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
(D66) and People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
(VVD). Between 1971 and 1977, PvdA was allied with D66 and the PPR. After 1977 until 1989, it was closely allied to D66. Since 2003, the relationship between the PvdA and D66 has considerably worsened, at first because PvdA was in opposition to the Second Balkenende cabinet
Second Balkenende cabinet
The second cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands formed on 27 May 2003. It consisted of three political parties: People's Party for Freedom and Democracy , Christian Democratic Appeal , and Democrats 66 , which is the smallest of the three.On 29 June 2006, D66 dropped its support for...
which D66 had co-operated in.
During the governance of the second
Second Balkenende cabinet
The second cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands formed on 27 May 2003. It consisted of three political parties: People's Party for Freedom and Democracy , Christian Democratic Appeal , and Democrats 66 , which is the smallest of the three.On 29 June 2006, D66 dropped its support for...
and third Balkenende cabinet
Third Balkenende cabinet
The third Balkenende cabinet was formed on 7 July 2006 after a crisis in and the subsequent resignation of the second Balkenende cabinet. This demissionary minority cabinet of Christian Democratic Appeal and People's Party for Freedom and Democracy was negotiated by former prime minister Ruud...
, the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Netherlands)
The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
and the GreenLeft
GreenLeft
GreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
were calling for closer cooperation with the PvdA, calling to form a shadow government against the Balkenende cabinet, PvdA leader Bos held this off.
External links
Partij van de Arbeid, official website- Dutch Labour Party, English website