The ad campaignThe issues
- COVID-19
- OH NO THE ECONOMY
- Housing (climate regulations means most construction work has been halted, we're short about 600k homes and that number is rising)
- Healthcare (budget cuts have resulted in COVID patients being admitted to German hospitals)
- Immigration (500 asylum seekers enter our country on a weekly basis without the prospect of housing or employment and an increased chance of dying of COVID)- Climate (the debate is lively)
ExpectationsThe country is expected to take a right turn, with center right and right wing parties taking 75% of the vote and the left 25% of the vote. However, the VVD does not want to govern with the PVV, FVD or SGP which means the current center right government coalition(VVD/CDA/D66) will be stuck with 30% - 40% of the vote and has to include a left wing party into their government. A lot of people might also vote stragetically for the VVD because they don't want the PVV to win. The second most likely outcome is that the election will be postponed so the governing coalition is less hampered by their recent scandals.
The pandemic and a number of scandals have unearthed a culture of government mistrust of its citizens as well as public servants lying to clueless politicans and even judges for their own gains and protection. This resulted in our government resigning a few weeks before the elections. They stil govern though, they just can't make any new 'big' decisions without a parliamentary vote.
We have a parliamentary system with a parliament of 150 seats, a coalition of 75 seats + 1 can govern. Technically a smaller coalition could as well but it would need support from opposition parties to govern. This happened before when the PVV supported a minority government of the VVD and CDA. However, real power lies with our sovereign King Willem Alexander. Or at least it would be if his family wasn't politically neutered generations ago. So we have what we call a 'Constitutional Monarchy'. Where the king is still the head of state but has a purely ceremonial and advisory role and no real political power.
Battle Royale PoliticsPVV, VVD, D66... what the fuck. Welcome to the Dutch political system we don't have a 2 party system but a 10+ party system and a popular vote. There's also something called 'Wachtgeld (waiting money)' if an MP resigns or decides not to take their seat they receive money from the government until they find a new job. So in some cases people just join or create a party, show up in parliament for a few months and then resign or leave their party and keep their seat that's also possible and how some parties like Wilders' PVV were formed.
89 parties have signed up for the next election. But it is unlikely all of them will meet the requirements to be on the ballot.
VotingOnly people aged 65 and up can vote by mail. Other people have to vote in person during this pandemic. You could call this rigging an election or it could blow up in their face and only anti-vaxx people show up to vote because grandma forgets to mail and we end up with Emperor Thierry Baudet the 1st. Our government fucked up everything else lately so that would be a fitting end to Rutte's rule. Although at that point I think the Germans might intervene and I wouldn't blame them. Otherwise Democracy is well protected with Voter ID laws and voting machines.
Election day is March 17th 2021Who are you voting for Nintex?This election I might vote for the CDA but I'm conflicted. One of my high school friends is a local party member and I like what he did in our town. I also prefer Wopke over Rutte as Prime Minister. To strengthen his position I will likely vote on their number 2 Pieter Omtzigt. But there is the COVID stain and the clueless clown that is our health secretary who is a member of the party so at this point I'm undecided. I've ruled out voting for the CDA and their McKinsey consultant. So now I'm undecided.
* = current government coalition
Most likely winner!!!VVD (center right)*Peoples party of Freedom and Democracy (Our New Story)
Mark Rutte
His lead is significant but so are his recent failures. Laughing voters in the face while they emotionally told their story about poverty and death wasn't helpful.
Won ~3 more seats Toss-up runner upD66 (center)*Democrats '66 (It is time for new leadership)
Sigrid Kaag
Wants to be the first female PM but has no chance against Rutte and has seemingly accepted a government post. If Wilders voters give up and CDA and GroenLinks continue to implode she could make it to second place.With Rutte failing, the public broadcasting channels airing her propaganda day in and day out and her party accepting some very large donations, she's gaining the most from other parties imploding and could beat Rutte in a last minute upset.
Then again there's also a significant number of people that hate D66 with a passion and could rally behind PVV and FvD instead.
With CDA flopping and the left toeing the Rutte line Kaag has surged to second place with 27 seats. The best result for her party in history.Biggest opposition partyPVV (right)Freedom Party (let's take back the Netherlands again)
Geert Wilders
Wilders campaign has hit a snag as it seems unlikely he can overcome Rutte in just 2 more days of campaigning.
Some VVD voters will jump ship but it won't be enough and he has Baudet eating away at his flanks.
This happened, Wilders seemed happy to be back in the oppositionDark horseFVD (edgelord right)Forum for Democracy (Liberate the Netherlands)
Thierry Baudet (Chaotic Hitler)
The only politician actually campaigning in an all or nothing wank dad bet but unless a miracle happens that would be 4 seats at best and otherwise a Trump 2016 upset.
I'm not seeing it happening though.Already polling at 6 seats but pollsters admit a lot of voters are still undecided, rallies are packed and the latest developments including our government failing to count the mail in ballots benefit FvD the most.
The media and his rivals have tried everything to stop him but he keeps gaining momentum as the candidate who promises to open up the country the day after the election.
Thierry got 8 seats, quadrupling his current 2 seats and the expected result for his party just a month ago. Big question if he accepts this outcome as he probably expected more and if his voters accept that the country won't open up tommorow. Still they served their purpose to keep his party in parliamentLosersCDA (center right)*Christian Democrats (now get going)
Wopke Hoekstra
Wopke can't answer a single yes/no question, proposed austerity and benefit cuts during a health crisis. His party is in shambles and he doesn't know what's in their program.
This ended in a big devastating loss for his partyGroenlinks (hipster left)Green Left (More Future More Green Left)
Jesse Klaver
Imploded, called an 'empty vessel with no ideas' will lose to Kaag
Yep, lost big time. Probably has to resign as leaderThe other parties don't seem relevant anymore.
True, the farmers got 1 seat, the crazy Black Lives Matters lady got 1 seat. The party that split from FvD got 3 seats and already proposed teaming up with Thierry again
The classic greens, democratic socialists and communists have been completely wiped out, 25 seats in total. 1/6th of the total number of votes.
Disclaimer: These pictures are not biased, I've simply taken their Twitter profile pictures this is how these people prefer to present themselves: as child molestors, cult leaders, hipster Hitler or otherwise.
The party slogans are also not created by me, but actually the real slogans of these parties translated. Although not all of them translate well into another language.
There might be more parties running, I will add them in the future once I get my sample ballot or I read about it in the news