Do the Netherlands have the most right wing government in Europe?
Do the Netherlands have the most right wing government in Europe?
It all depends how we define “right wing”. A new minority government has just been formed between the right wing Liberals VVD and the Christian Democratic CDA, with the external support of Gert Wilders’ PVV, an anti-Muslim, anti-immigration party, which attracted 15.5 percent of the vote in the recent elections. For the election results and analysis of the coalition options see my previous post on this subject:
http://cep.rhul.ac.uk/cep-blog/2010/6/13/dutch-elections-nearly-no-swing-to-the-right.html
Denmark has a similar minority coalition between Liberals and Conservatives, which enjoys external support from the far right Danish People’s Party. The difference is that the Danish People’s Party is smaller than the PVV and in some ways more moderate. Although less economically liberal than the Netherlands and Denmark, Italy probably has the most right wing government in Europe, since the extreme right Lega Nord is actually in government and controls the Ministry of the Interior. The Italian government also lacks more moderate Liberals or Christian Democrats.
Dr Giacomo Benedetto
5 Comments
Reader Comments (5)
The VVD-CDA government with support from PVV has not just been formed. Not yet. Can take some more weeks. Might fail as well.
I think one must draw the distinction between the PVV being a formal part of the coalition and lending external support.
I really don't think they do, but its pretty bad
bananagrams
Now that this government has formed, let us remember that the Dutch Liberals (VVD) and Christian Democrats (CDA) had another choice. They could have taken the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) as their coalition partner instead. The reason why they didn't is that the VVD is wedded to a huge austerity programme which the PvdA would not accept.
I think its a tough guestion to answer, in order to do that you have to define right wing as you point out. In my opinion you could perhaps look at the rules, regulations and restrictions issued by governments directed towards immigrants. Are they getting stricter, leaner and so on. But then again you have to point out what right wing is, and figure out a way to measure it, before you can compare nations in between.