10-06-2010 Dutch Party for the Animals keeps 2 seats in Parliament

As a candidate for the Dutch Party for the Animals, I was pleased to see that the party retained two seats in Parliament in yesterday’s elections. Their influence on politics has been remarkable. The University of Leiden published a study showing that animal welfare and agriculture are now higher on the political agenda. During the last four years 17% of the motions and amendments dealt with agriculture and nature. During 2003-2006 this figure was only 3%.

While the surge to the right cannot be denied, it must be recognised that the Democrats 66 increased their number of seats from three to ten, and the Green Left party gained three seats and now also has ten seats.

The clearest conclusion is that voters were fed up with Christian politcs which only focused on protection of short-term human interests ahead of nature and the environment.

A coalition will be difficult, and fingers crossed it won’t be a coalition of VVD (right wing liberals), PVV (anti-islam party for freedom) and CDA (Christian Democrats) but rather a centrist (with Green Left) coalition.

While I am obviously shocked by the PVV victory, thank god for proportional representation in the Netherlands, and the chance for the Party for the Animals to continue their fantastic and extremely important work for animals, people and the environment. Not only within the Netherlands, but the party is an inspiration worldwide, as these topics affect us all.