Dutch general election, 2006

The parliamentary elections in the Netherlands 2006 ( Tweede Kamerverkiezingen ) took place on 22 November. Originally, the election on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 to be held, but was brought forward by one day to May 15 because the following Thursday was a holiday. Eventually, however, early elections have been necessary in November 2006, when the end of June, the small government party D66 withdrew from the Cabinet Balkenende II. After leaving the coalition of CDA and VVD had only nor more than 71 of the 150 seats - and 5 seats too little for the required absolute majority of at least 76 deputies. Premier Balkenende then offered his resignation while, but was commissioned by the Queen to lead a minority government, the Cabinet Balkenende III. Although this government could procure from case to case, voting majorities by small parties, was not intended from the outset to exploit the full term.

It was the third election in four years. During the election campaign seemed to be primarily two camps confront: the remaining government parties CDA and VVD on the one hand and an asset base of PvdA, SP and Groen Links leftist opposition. However, it hinted at relatively soon that both camps would not achieve an absolute majority, as a growing number of small parties could give hope to return in the Parliament. However, their strength in detail was difficult to predict, while the massive gains of the Socialists became apparent quickly. In the meantime, they seemed even to surpass the PvdA.

Election procedures and allocation of seats

The choice of the Second Chamber is carried out as a pure proportional representation without blocking clause. For the entry into parliament a party only needs to overcome the hurdle of kiesdelers, which is from the total number of votes cast divided by the number of seats to be distributed (150 ) results and rounded at 0.67 %. Each list gets first assigned as many seats as the Kiesdeler contained an integer in the total number of votes they. The remaining seats are allocated according to the systeem van de grootste gemiddelden, which essentially corresponds to the Hagenbach -Bischoff method. Parties that do not reach the Kiesdeler are not included in this distribution, even if they have entered into a joint list. The distribution of seats among the candidates is done in the order of the list seats. However, the voters have the opportunity to take corrective action in the internal party preselection and hochzuwählen worse -placed candidate, as they can give a person her voice specifically. In general, all individual voices only benefit the overall result of the list, but who's coming in a relevant for the distribution of seats position with the personal Voorkeurstemmen and at the same time the Voorkeursdrempel (25% of Kiesdelers ) exceeds can head to move to the better list seats in parliament.

Parties and leading candidates

24 parties competed in more than one of the 19 constituencies. Were elected to Parliament:

With the exception of Partij voor de Dieren, who succeeded in this election the entry into parliament, none of the small parties went to more who had not yet participated in the elections of 2003, but failed the feeder. A number of new small parties entered instead of to choose from, but all of them failed.

Final result ( with comparative figures 2003)

  • CDA
  • PvdA
  • SP
  • VVD

Individual results

The Kiesdeler in 2006 was 65 591 votes. The turnout was higher than in 2003 with 80.35 %., The peak value was achieved with 94.23 % on the island of Schiermonnikoog.

Of the candidates of VVD minister Rita Verdonk received list with 620 555 voorkeurstemmen (about: individual voices, one can be cross at a particular candidate either list make ) a better result than the individual leader Mark Rutte ( 553 200 ); so was relegated to second place for the first time a lijsttrekker. This followed a crucial vote on the chairmanship, the Rutte had won just ahead Verdonk.

Fatma Koser Kaya ( D66 ) is the only candidate who was elected with the help of the individual votes into parliamentary control, although their actual list location would not normally put her in this election. She received 34 564 votes and moved so from sixth to second place before.

The humblest result of all being beaten lists generated ' Tamara 's Open Partij ' by 144 votes, a single candidate who ran in only one of the 19 constituencies.

Implications of the election results / Government Education

The coalition negotiations proved on the basis of this result, first as difficult. The ruling Christian Democrats of Prime Minister Balkenende were after the election, although still the strongest force, but mathematically it was not enough to form a "big " coalition with the PvdA. There was a third coalition partner required. In an interview were initially while the Socialists, who were as real election winner for the third strongest force, or rather, based in the center ChristianUnion that emerged also emerge from the election.

Queen Beatrix appointed on 25 November, the Council of State Member Rein January Hoekstra (CDA ) for Informateur. He had the task to explore the possibilities for the realization of a solid government coalition.

After initial discussions with all faction leaders represented in the new parliament parties Hoekstra said on December 5 that he wanted to work towards a coalition of CDA, PvdA and SP. A week later he informed by more detailed discussions with Balkenende (CDA ), Bos ( PvdA) and Marijnissen ( SP) but with that he form a government with these three partners, due to the large differences between Christian Democrats and Socialists no longer possible think.

After a new round of talks with the group representatives Hoekstra suggested the formation of a coalition of CDA, PvdA and ChristianUnion in its final report on December 19. At the same time he recommended as his successor the former chairman of the Social -Economic Council, Herman Wijffels, who then had the task of moderating the emergence of a coalition agreement in concrete negotiations with these three parties.

The new round of coalition negotiations began on 3 January 2007. On February 6, the fractions of the three parties approved the negotiated coalition agreement. Queen Beatrix appointed Jan Peter Balkenende on February 9 officially on Formateur. He put together a cabinet in which the CDA occupied eight ministerial posts, the PvdA 6 and the second ChristianUnion The fourth Balkenende government was sworn in on 22 February by the Queen.

Socialist Party (Netherlands) GreenLeft Party for the Animals Reformed Political Party Second Balkenende cabinet Third Balkenende cabinet Hagenbach-Bischoff system Apparentment Pim Fortuyn List Party for the Netherlands Liberal Democratic Party (Netherlands) Beatrix of the Netherlands Fourth Balkenende cabinet
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