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2010 Dutch general election
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| election_name | 2010 Dutch general election |
| country | Netherlands |
| previous_election | [2006](2006-dutch-general-election) |
| next_election | [2012](2012-dutch-general-election) |
| seats_for_election | All 150 seats in the House of Representatives |
| majority_seats | 76 |
| election_date | |
| turnout | 75.40% ( 4.95pp) |
| leader1 | Mark Rutte |
| party1 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| last_election1 | 22 |
| seats1 | 31 |
| percentage1 | 20.49 |
| leader2 | Job Cohen |
| party2 | Labour Party (Netherlands) |
| last_election2 | 33 |
| seats2 | 30 |
| percentage2 | 19.63 |
| leader3 | Geert Wilders |
| party3 | Party for Freedom |
| last_election3 | 9 |
| seats3 | 24 |
| percentage3 | 15.45 |
| leader4 | Jan Peter Balkenende |
| party4 | Christian Democratic Appeal |
| last_election4 | 41 |
| seats4 | 21 |
| percentage4 | 13.61 |
| leader5 | Emile Roemer |
| party5 | Socialist Party (Netherlands) |
| last_election5 | 25 |
| seats5 | 15 |
| percentage5 | 9.82 |
| leader6 | Alexander Pechtold |
| party6 | Democrats 66 |
| last_election6 | 3 |
| seats6 | 10 |
| percentage6 | 6.95 |
| leader7 | Femke Halsema |
| party7 | GreenLeft |
| last_election7 | 7 |
| seats7 | 10 |
| percentage7 | 6.67 |
| leader8 | André Rouvoet |
| party8 | ChristianUnion |
| last_election8 | 6 |
| seats8 | 5 |
| percentage8 | 3.24 |
| leader9 | Kees van der Staaij |
| party9 | Reformed Political Party |
| last_election9 | 2 |
| seats9 | 2 |
| percentage9 | 1.74 |
| leader10 | Marianne Thieme |
| party10 | Party for the Animals |
| last_election10 | 2 |
| seats10 | 2 |
| percentage10 | 1.30 |
| map | Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 2010.png |
| map_caption | Most voted-for party by municipality |
| title | Cabinet |
| before_election | Fourth Balkenende cabinet |
| before_party | CDA–PvdA–CU |
| after_election | First Rutte cabinet |
| after_party | VVD–CDA |
General elections were held in the Netherlands on Wednesday 9 June 2010. This was triggered by the fall of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's fourth cabinet on 20 February with Queen Beatrix accepting the resignation of the Labour Party (PvdA) ministers on 23 February. The conservative liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), led by Mark Rutte, won the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives while the social democratic PvdA, led by Job Cohen, came a narrow second. The election was also noted for the rise of the Party for Freedom (PVV), which came third, led by controversial politician Geert Wilders. On the other hand, Balkenende's Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) saw a poor result, losing half its seats (along with popular support) and dropping from first to fourth place. The Socialist Party (SP) also lost seats. Notably, the 31 seats won by the VVD was its most since 1998.
After the election, the formation of a new government took 127 days. Both the VVD and the PvdA hoped to have a leading role. VVD talks with the PvdA and other left-wing parties (trying to form a so-called purple coalition without Christian parties) broke down; however, Rutte was able to form a right-wing coalition of the VVD and CDA, with a confidence and supply agreement with the PVV. It was the first coalition government not to be led by a Christian democratic or social democratic party in 92 years, as well as the first to be led by the VVD. Rutte was sworn in as prime minister on 14 October, becoming the first liberal to hold that post since 1918.
The 150 seats of the House of Representatives were contested, and filled using party-list proportional representation for a nominal four-year term.
Background
The election follows the PvdA's withdrawal in February from the coalition over the contribution of Dutch soldiers to the War in Afghanistan. According to the Dutch constitution new elections had to be held within 83 days.
Debates
The first radio debate was held on 21 May 2010. The first television debate, held on 23 May was, according to instant polls, won by Mark Rutte on 36%, with Job Cohen second on 24%, and Geert Wilders and Jan Peter Balkenende third, on 18%.
Opinion polls
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DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:5 till:23 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:5
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TextData = pos:(260,0) textcolor:black fontsize:S text: Week number (2010) pos:(0,190) textcolor:black fontsize:S text: Seats pos:(75,325) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:"Fall of Balkenende IV" pos:(525,325) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Final results
pos:(46,48) text:February pos:(153,48) text:March pos:(286,48) text:April pos:(415,48) text:May pos:(547,48) text:June
Colors = id:vvd value:oceanblue legend:VVD id:pvda value:red legend:PvdA id:cda value:rgb(0,1,0) legend:CDA id:pvv value:darkblue legend:PVV id:sp value:rgb(0.8,0,0.165) legend:SP id:gl value:rgb(0.49,0.761,0.259) legend:GL id:d66 value:yellowgreen legend:D66
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LineData = points: (109,30)(109,330) color:gray2 layer:back width:0.5 # verticale lijn tussen wk 7 en 8, val kabinet
- points: (156,30)(156,330) color:gray2 layer:back width:0.5 # verticale lijn tussen wk 8 en 9, gemeenteraadsverkiezingen points: (571,30)(571,330) color:gray2 layer:back width:0.5 # verticale lijn tussen wk 22 en 23, verkiezingen
points: (147,30)(147,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # maart points: (280,30)(280,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # april points: (409,30)(409,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # mei points: (541,30)(541,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # juni
layer:front # CDA points: (40,228)(70,234) color:cda width:2 # x: 40 + w30 waarbij w het weeknummer-5 points: (70,234)(100,222) color:cda width:2 # y: 30 + z6 waarbij z het aantal zetels points: (100,222)(130,216) color:cda width:2 # (40+230=100 , 30+326=222)(40+330 , 30+316) points: (130,216)(151,204) color:cda width:2 # "Week 9" heeft x=151 ipv 160: uitslag vervroegd naar dinsdag ipv donderdag vanwege points: (151,204)(190,192) color:cda width:2 # gemeenteraadsverkiezingen points: (190,192)(220,198) color:cda width:2 points: (220,198)(250,192) color:cda width:2 points: (250,192)(310,204) color:cda width:2 points: (310,204)(340,210) color:cda width:2 points: (340,210)(370,210) color:cda width:3 points: (370,210)(400,204) color:cda width:2 points: (400,204)(430,192) color:cda width:2 points: (430,192)(460,186) color:cda width:2 points: (460,186)(490,168) color:cda width:2 points: (490,168)(507,186) color:cda width:2 points: (507,186)(520,180) color:cda width:2 points: (520,180)(537,174) color:cda width:2 points: (537,174)(550,168) color:cda width:2 points: (550,168)(567,174) color:cda width:2 points: (567,174)(571,156) color:cda width:2 points: (571,156)(572,156) color:cda width:5
layer:front # PvdA points: (40,156)(70,150) color:pvda width:2 # x: 40 + w30 waarbij w het weeknummer-5 points: (70,150)(100,156) color:pvda width:2 # y: 30 + z6 waarbij z het aantal zetels points: (100,156)(130,192) color:pvda width:2 # (40+230=100 , 30+216=156)(40+330 , 30+275) points: (130,192)(151,192) color:pvda width:2 points: (151,192)(190,186) color:pvda width:2 points: (190,186)(220,228) color:pvda width:2 points: (220,228)(250,228) color:pvda width:2 points: (250,228)(310,228) color:pvda width:2 points: (310,228)(340,210) color:pvda width:2 points: (340,210)(370,210) color:pvda width:2 points: (370,210)(400,222) color:pvda width:2 points: (400,222)(430,228) color:pvda width:2 points: (430,228)(460,228) color:pvda width:2 points: (460,228)(490,228) color:pvda width:2 points: (490,228)(507,210) color:pvda width:2 points: (507,210)(520,204) color:pvda width:2 points: (520,204)(537,198) color:pvda width:2 points: (537,198)(550,210) color:pvda width:2 points: (550,210)(567,210) color:pvda width:2 points: (571,210)(572,210) color:pvda width:5
layer:front # VVD points: (40,138)(70,132) color:vvd width:2 # x: 40 + w30 waarbij w het weeknummer-5 points: (70,132)(100,132) color:vvd width:2 # y: 30 + z6 waarbij z het aantal zetels points: (100,132)(130,120) color:vvd width:2 # (40+230=100 , 30+176=132)(40+330 , 30+155) points: (130,120)(151,132) color:vvd width:2 points: (151,132)(190,162) color:vvd width:2 points: (190,162)(220,150) color:vvd width:2 points: (220,150)(250,156) color:vvd width:2 points: (250,156)(310,162) color:vvd width:2 points: (310,162)(340,168) color:vvd width:2 points: (340,168)(370,192) color:vvd width:2 points: (370,192)(400,210) color:vvd width:2 points: (400,210)(430,216) color:vvd width:2 points: (430,216)(460,222) color:vvd width:2 points: (460,222)(490,246) color:vvd width:2 points: (490,246)(507,252) color:vvd width:2 points: (507,252)(520,258) color:vvd width:2 points: (520,258)(537,258) color:vvd width:2 points: (537,258)(550,246) color:vvd width:2 points: (550,246)(567,228) color:vvd width:2 points: (567,228)(571,216) color:vvd width:2 points: (571,216)(572,216) color:vvd width:5
layer:front # PVV points: (40,186)(70,174) color:pvv width:2 points: (70,174)(100,174) color:pvv width:2 points: (100,174)(130,192) color:pvv width:2 points: (130,192)(151,186) color:pvv width:2 points: (151,186)(190,174) color:pvv width:2 points: (190,174)(220,168) color:pvv width:2 points: (220,168)(250,162) color:pvv width:2 points: (250,162)(310,168) color:pvv width:2 points: (310,168)(340,156) color:pvv width:2 points: (340,156)(370,138) color:pvv width:2 points: (370,138)(400,138) color:pvv width:2 points: (400,138)(430,138) color:pvv width:2 points: (430,138)(460,132) color:pvv width:2 points: (460,132)(490,138) color:pvv width:2 points: (490,138)(507,138) color:pvv width:2 points: (507,138)(520,132) color:pvv width:2 points: (520,132)(537,126) color:pvv width:2 points: (537,126)(550,120) color:pvv width:2 points: (550,120)(567,132) color:pvv width:2 points: (567,132)(571,174) color:pvv width:2 points: (571,174)(572,174) color:pvv width:5
layer:front # D66 points: (40,132)(70,132) color:d66 width:2 points: (70,132)(100,138) color:d66 width:2 points: (100,138)(130,126) color:d66 width:2 points: (130,126)(151,126) color:d66 width:2 points: (151,126)(190,138) color:d66 width:2 points: (190,138)(220,120) color:d66 width:2 points: (220,120)(250,120) color:d66 width:2 points: (250,120)(310,102) color:d66 width:2 points: (310,102)(340,102) color:d66 width:2 points: (340,102)(370,114) color:d66 width:2 points: (370,114)(400,108) color:d66 width:2 points: (400,108)(430,102) color:d66 width:2 points: (430,102)(460,96) color:d66 width:2 points: (460,96)(490,90) color:d66 width:2 points: (490,90)(507,84) color:d66 width:2 points: (507,84)(520,84) color:d66 width:2 points: (520,84)(537,90) color:d66 width:2 points: (537,90)(550,96) color:d66 width:2 points: (550,96)(567,90) color:d66 width:2 points: (571,90)(572,90) color:d66 width:5
layer:front # SP points: (40,108)(70,102) color:sp width:2 points: (70,102)(100,102) color:sp width:2 points: (100,102)(130,102) color:sp width:2 points: (130,102)(151,96) color:sp width:2 points: (151,96)(190,84) color:sp width:2 points: (190,84)(220,78) color:sp width:2 points: (220,78)(250,84) color:sp width:2 points: (250,84)(310,96) color:sp width:2 points: (310,96)(340,96) color:sp width:2 points: (340,96)(370,90) color:sp width:2 points: (370,90)(400,78) color:sp width:2 points: (400,78)(430,84) color:sp width:2 points: (430,84)(460,84) color:sp width:3 points: (460,84)(490,78) color:sp width:2 points: (490,78)(507,84) color:sp width:2 points: (507,84)(520,90) color:sp width:2 points: (520,90)(537,102) color:sp width:2 points: (537,102)(550,114) color:sp width:2 points: (550,114)(567,114) color:sp width:2 points: (567,114)(571,120) color:sp width:2 points: (571,120)(572,120) color:sp width:5
layer:front # GL points: (40,90)(70,96) color:gl width:2 points: (70,96)(100,96) color:gl width:2 points: (100,96)(130,96) color:gl width:2 points: (130,96)(151,108) color:gl width:2 points: (151,108)(190,102) color:gl width:2 points: (190,102)(220,96) color:gl width:2 points: (220,96)(250,90) color:gl width:2 points: (250,90)(310,78) color:gl width:2 points: (310,78)(340,90) color:gl width:2 points: (340,90)(370,84) color:gl width:2 points: (370,84)(400,84) color:gl width:2 points: (400,84)(430,84) color:gl width:2 points: (430,84)(460,84) color:gl width:2 points: (460,84)(490,90) color:gl width:2 points: (490,90)(507,90) color:gl width:2 points: (507,90)(520,96) color:gl width:2 points: (520,96)(537,90) color:gl width:2 points: (537,90)(550,90) color:gl width:2 points: (550,90)(567,96) color:gl width:2 points: (567,96)(578,90) color:gl width:2 points: (578,90)(579,90) color:gl width:5
| Party | [2006](2006-dutch-general-election) | Politieke Barometer | Peil.nl | TNS-NIPO | % | Seats (150) | 8–6–2010 | Exit polls (21.00 hrs) | 7–6–2010 | Exit polls | 31–5–2010 | Exit polls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDA | 26.5 | 41 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 21 | ||||
| PvdA | 21.2 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | ||||
| SP | 16.6 | 25 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | ||||
| VVD | 14.7 | 22 | 33 | 31 | 36 | 34 | 37 | 36 | ||||
| PVV | 5.9 | 9 | 17 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | ||||
| GL | 4.6 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | ||||
| CU | 4.0 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 6 | ||||
| D66 | 2.0 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | ||||
| PvdD | 1.8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| SGP | 1.6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||||
| ToN/Trots* | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| Others | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | ||||
| * Trots op Nederland is the party formed by Rita Verdonk after she split from the VVD in 2007 and became an independent representative. |
Polls indicated that the elections were too close to call.
Results
Turnout was reported to be over 5% lower than the previous elections allegedly due to heavy rain and stormy weather.
By province
| Province | VVD | PvdA | PVV | CDA | SP | D66 | GL | CU | SGP | PvdD | Others | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}};" | Labour Party (Netherlands)}};" | Party for Freedom}};" | Christian Democratic Appeal}};" | Socialist Party (Netherlands)}};" | Democrats 66}};" | GroenLinks}};" | Christian Union (Netherlands)}};" | Reformed Political Party}};" | Party for the Animals}};" | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drenthe | 19.2 | **26.2** | 13.0 | 13.8 | 9.8 | 5.2 | 5.9 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Flevoland | **24.5** | 19.0 | 16.2 | 10.6 | 8.6 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Friesland | 15.5 | **24.8** | 11.4 | 18.2 | 11.5 | 4.7 | 6.2 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gelderland | **19.4** | 18.7 | 13.5 | 15.7 | 9.7 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groningen | 14.5 | **27.6** | 11.4 | 11.1 | 11.7 | 6.5 | 8.3 | 6.1 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Limburg (Netherlands) | 15.5 | 15.6 | **26.8** | 16.0 | 12.9 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 1.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North Brabant | **21.0** | 16.1 | 17.4 | 16.2 | 13.4 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North Holland | 23.5 | **23.6** | 13.5 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 1.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Overijssel | 16.9 | 19.1 | 12.6 | **20.4** | 9.3 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 6.2 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| South Holland | **22.4** | 18.6 | 16.9 | 11.2 | 8.2 | 7.4 | 6.4 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Utrecht | **23.2** | 18.1 | 12.5 | 12.0 | 7.1 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Zeeland | **17.5** | 17.4 | 15.0 | 16.3 | 9.2 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 8.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
Reactions
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende stepped down from his position in the CDA and resigned his parliamentary seat on the evening of the election, saying he was taking "political responsibility" for the unsatisfactory election results of his party and that "The voter has spoken, the outcome is clear."
Government formation
Main article: 2010 Dutch cabinet formation
Expectations were that the formation of a new government would take some time. The international media also read this as a slim victory for the "austerity-minded" Liberals during the euro area crisis.
On 14 October, Mark Rutte was sworn in as prime minister. Rutte's government resigned on 24 April 2012 over austerity measures.
Analysis
Some international media speculated that "for the first time in this nation's history, a Jewish man, albeit a secular one, is on the verge of becoming the next prime minister ... Job Cohen, who was until recently the Mayor of Amsterdam, and represents the top of the ticket for the PvdA ... is at the end of a long battle to run the country that began in February when the PvdA backed out of the ruling coalition government because it did not want to send Dutch troops back to Afghanistan."
References
References
- (2009-02-23). "Ontslag en benoeming bewindspersonen". Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst.
- (10 June 2010). "Election 2010 – The Netherlands shifts to the right". nrc.nl.
- (23 May 2010). "Peiling: Rutte wint debat".
- "Politieke Barometer Week 23 – 08 juni 2010". Politiekebarometer.nl.
- (2010-06-08). "VVD nog 4 zetels voor op PvdA, incl. prognose voor TK2010 (laatste peiling)". No Ties bv.
- (2010-05-12). "Slotpeiling: VVD behoudt voorsprong op PvdA". [[TNS NIPO]].
- (2010-06-04). "Radio Netherlands Worldwide (2010-06-09): Dutch election too close to call". Rnw.nl.
- "Tweede Kamer Verkiezingen 2010". Telegraaf.
- [http://www.rnw.nl/suriname/article/verkiezingen-nog-nooit-zo-spannend Verkiezingen nog nooit zo spannend], Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 9 June 2010
- "Tweede Kamer 9 juni 2010".
- "Dutch PM quits CDA party leadership - Europe". Al Jazeera English.
- (2005-05-30). "Dutch Face Months of Coalition Talks; Wilders Third (Update2)". Bloomberg.com.
- "Dutch election gives austerity-minded Liberals slim win". Dw-world.de.
- "Dutch government - who's who {{!}} Radio Netherlands Worldwide".
- "The Netherlands decides its fate - Focus". Al Jazeera English.
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