Netherlands Goes to the Polls

The results of a General Election, being held over several days this week, are due to be announced in the Netherlands over the coming few days. It is widely anticipated that the liberal VVD Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte, will continue to be the largest grouping within the Dutch Parliament, which is called Tweede Kamer, maybe increasing its number of seats fractionally. In stark contrast to the Westminster Parliament of the UK, where a first past the post system leads to weird electoral anomalies and vastly exaggerated landslide victories, the Dutch system favours pluralism, so that small parties such as the Party for the Animals, Christian Union and far right Party for Freedom often gain crucial seats. An alliance between the VVD and a series of smaller parties is considered likely after the election. The Pirate Party, which is ideologically driven by a desire for free copyright and a free digital world, is standing and hopeful of gaining a seat. LGBTQ rights are supported by a majority of Dutch political parties and the country is expected to remain one of the liberal voices within the European structure.