League of Communists in the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
The League of Communists in the Netherlands, in Dutch known as Verbond van Communisten in Nederland (VCN) was a communist political party in the Netherlands. The VCN was the result of a split in 1984 in the Communist Party of the Netherlands
(CPN), who disagreed with the revisionist
and eurocommunist line of the new leadership of the CPN. Already in 1982 did a orthodox communist platform within the CPN emerged, called the Horizontaal Overleg Communisten, (Horizontal Forum of Communists) (HOC), which at first functioned as a lobby group within the CPN. Former member of parliament Fré Meis was one of its more prominent members. After the CPN Congress of 1984, in which democratic centralism
and Marxism-Leninism
were abandoned, did the HOC decided to split from the CPN and form the VCN.
The VCN was mostly active within the traditional CPN strongholds, such as Amsterdam
and the province of Groningen
. In 1986 the VCN contested the Tweede Kamer elections
, but only managed to gather 4.800 votes, just 0,1% of the votes. However the CPN just barely missed the 0,67% hurdle and therefore lost its representation. If the votes of the VCN would have been included, the CPN would have gotten representation. In 1989, after the CPN had already merged into GroenLinks it again contested the elections
, and although gaining more votes, it still did not get close to winning a seat (7.700 votes, 0,1%). It was estimated in 1989 that the VCN had about a 1000 members.
In 1992, after the final disbandment of the CPN, the VCN decided to merge with local communist groups and those of the HOC who decided to remain within the CPN, which resulted in the formation of the New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN).
Communist Party of the Netherlands
The Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
(CPN), who disagreed with the revisionist
Revisionism (Marxism)
Within the Marxist movement, the word revisionism is used to refer to various ideas, principles and theories that are based on a significant revision of fundamental Marxist premises. The term is most often used by those Marxists who believe that such revisions are unwarranted and represent a...
and eurocommunist line of the new leadership of the CPN. Already in 1982 did a orthodox communist platform within the CPN emerged, called the Horizontaal Overleg Communisten, (Horizontal Forum of Communists) (HOC), which at first functioned as a lobby group within the CPN. Former member of parliament Fré Meis was one of its more prominent members. After the CPN Congress of 1984, in which democratic centralism
Democratic centralism
Democratic centralism is the name given to the principles of internal organization used by Leninist political parties, and the term is sometimes used as a synonym for any Leninist policy inside a political party...
and Marxism-Leninism
Marxism-Leninism
Marxism–Leninism is a communist ideology, officially based upon the theories of Marxism and Vladimir Lenin, that promotes the development and creation of a international communist society through the leadership of a vanguard party over a revolutionary socialist state that represents a dictatorship...
were abandoned, did the HOC decided to split from the CPN and form the VCN.
The VCN was mostly active within the traditional CPN strongholds, 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 the province 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...
. In 1986 the VCN contested the Tweede Kamer elections
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:...
, but only managed to gather 4.800 votes, just 0,1% of the votes. However the CPN just barely missed the 0,67% hurdle and therefore lost its representation. If the votes of the VCN would have been included, the CPN would have gotten representation. In 1989, after the CPN had already merged into GroenLinks it again contested the elections
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:...
, and although gaining more votes, it still did not get close to winning a seat (7.700 votes, 0,1%). It was estimated in 1989 that the VCN had about a 1000 members.
In 1992, after the final disbandment of the CPN, the VCN decided to merge with local communist groups and those of the HOC who decided to remain within the CPN, which resulted in the formation of the New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN).