A strategy that should be pay electorally

He was, a few months ago, one of the most unpopular Premiers of the Netherlands since the end of the war. A subject of ridicule. A real puzzle. And rare were the Dutch who saw his future at the head of the Government. Jan Peter Balkenende is yet party to succeed himself, to the outcome of the elections held today at the Netherlands. Polls give his training, the call Christian Democrat (CDA), clearly in mind the intent of votes before the Labour Party (PvdA), which has long been polling favorite figure. A true political resurrection.

Possible "grand coalition".

In power since 2002, the head of the outgoing Government has regained a certain rating to his fellow citizens. More it is especially Europe's spectacular recovery. A rally that allowed him, And to forget the painful reforms carried out at the beginning of the legislature: reduction of public spending, partial privatization of the health system has created a rise in contributions for more than half of the Dutch, reform in-depth the incapacity for work plan, cuts in unemployment, tightening of the conditions for the minimum social benefits, etc.

The left-wing opposition, of course, failed to attack the outgoing team on these measures. Without much success apparently. "The labour party has made a bad campaign, multiplying the gaffes notably on pensions," judge, like many, the political scientist Maurice de Hond. And its young leader, Wouter Bos, forty-three years, often presented as "Tony Blair's Dutch", failed to take the ascendant to Jan Peter Balkenende.

"The PvdA lost intentions to vote in favour of the radical left," said Wouter Van der Brug, Professor of science policy at the University of Amsterdam. The Socialist Party (SP), a small formation of overtly anti-European left, could become the third force in Parliament.

The PvdA would be, in fact, not enough differentiated from the CDA, from the perspective of a possible "grand coalition" to the Dutch. Because the Christian Democrats and their liberal allies of the VVD should have great difficulty in getting a majority in Parliament. The small party D66, their former partner of Government, which caused the early elections of today, withdrawing its support, should lose almost all its seats, according to opinion polls. And it is difficult to see who might replace him at the end of the vote. Where the idea of a grand coalition of CDA-PvdA, as in have already experienced on several occasions the Netherlands.

A certain return to normalcy

The major parties are also used during the campaign to avoid subjects that get angry as integration European immigration and the integration of foreigners (see inquiry page 11). Focused on education, pensions, health, the debate has been rather mute. But they have translated a certain return to normal, after years marked by serious community tensions, in the wake of the assassination of politician Pim Fortuyn and filmmaker Theo Van Gogh.

Populists, which arise in order dispersed with four parties, are also credited to very few seats in the future by the polls. The outgoing coalition, has, it is true, very largely plundered their ideas. With the consent, if not the approval of the vast majority of the population. A strategy that should be pay electorally.