2012-09-11

Dutch election

The Dutch go to the polls today.

Polls set to open in Dutch election
Wednesday's vote is shaping into a battle between the Liberal VVD party of Mark Rutte, the current prime minister, and Diederik Samsom's centre-left PvdA Labour party. But neither will be able to govern alone.

The latest opinion polls predict a middle-of-the-road coalition government involving the pro-austerity VVD and pro-stimulus PvdA will emerge after an expected 12.5 million voters cast their ballots.

Fiscally prudent Rutte's government has been allied to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, while Samsom's calls for stimulus echo those of France's Socialist President Francois Hollande, elected this year on similar promises.

Analysis: Post-election Dutch may be awkward EU partners

Most important: the party positions on Greece.

Dutch Election: Party Profiles
VVD – Liberal Party: The EU should not become a “super state.” No more aid for Greece.
PvdA – Labor Party: Favors giving Greece more breathing space to meet its fiscal targets.
SP – Socialist Party: No more aid for Greece — the country’s debt should be further restructured.
PVV — Freedom Party: The Netherlands should become an independent country again, and should therefore exit the euro zone and the European Union.

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