Politics and Elections in the Netherlands: Rutte III era

[Lord Halifax]

That Rotterdam poll is terrible. F**k the PVV for screwing over Leefbaar, a highly effective and successful party.

In The Hague, the braindead part of the local PVV (consisting of former MPs Karen Gerbrands and Willie Dille) has successfully managed to chase away the (more or less) normal part, consisting of Elias van Hees (who already left last year), Danielle de Winter and Tim Vermeer. Hope they will get a nice seat loss. This is likely to happen and will probably mainly benefit local party Groep De Mos, led by former PVV MP Richard de Mos. Will be voting VVD myself.

Why not Groep De Mos?

[Lord Halifax]

Sybrand Buma is out as CDA leader: he will be the new mayor of Leeuwarden, the capital of Frisia. The CDA now need to find a new parliamentary group leader and a political leader. For the latter job, ministers Wopke Hoekstra (Finance) and Hugo de Jonge (Public Health) are considered to be frontrunners.

Will that lead to any policy changes?

[Lord Halifax]

Someone brought this up to me elsewhere but didn't provide details: do D66 want any further movement on euthanasia during this term?

Yes, from the notes with the explorer, its clear that D66 wants to continue with movement on euthanasia and do not wants to negotiate about it in the next government and wants to leave it as free subject for parliament to decide, knowing it will pass then. It will be one of the most difficult subjects if D66 and CU have to negotiate in the next government who is very against it

How do they wish to further expand euthanasia?

Currently the law requires that the patient's suffering is unbearable with no prospect of improvement. D66 basically wants to remove that requirement for those over 75 years old.  The proposal is that these people may request an assisted suicide, if they consider their life to be complete. Even if they are completely healthy.

No chance of any prospective heirs abusing that of course.