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THE NETHERLANDS

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At stake in this election:

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: Queen BEATRIX
Head of Government: Prime Minister Wim KOK
Assembly: The Netherlands has a bicameral States General (State Generaal) made up of the First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) with 75 seats and the Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer) which consists of 150 seats.

Description of electoral structure:

Members of the First Chamber are elected indirectly by the country’s twelve provinces to serve four-year terms.
Members of the Second Chamber are elected by direct popular vote, each serving a term of four years.

Results from the electoral racess:

Party: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA)
Leader: Jan Peter BALKENENDE
Seats won in this election (Second Chamber): 44
Seats won in last election (Second Chamber): 43
Party: Labor Party (PvdA)
Leader: Wouter BOS
Seats won in this election (Second Chamber): 42
Seats won in last election (Second Chamber): 23
Party: People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD)
Leader: Gerrit ZALM
Seats won in this election (Second Chamber): 28
Seats won in last election (Second Chamber): 23
Party: Socialist Party (SP)
Leader: Jan MARIJNISSEN
Seats won in this election (Second Chamber): 9
Seats won in last election (Second Chamber): 9
Party: Pim Fortuyn List (LPF)
Leader: E.A.M. MAAS
Seats won in this election (Second Chamber): 8
Seats won in last election (Second Chamber): 26
Party: Green Left (GL)
Leader: Femke HALSEMA
Seats won in this election (Second Chamber): 8
Seats won in last election (Second Chamber): 11
Party: Democrats 66 (D66)
Leader: Thom DE GRAAF
Seats won in this election (Second Chamber): 6
Seats won in last election (Second Chamber): 7
Party: Christian Union Party (CU)
Leader: M. VAN DAALEN
Seats won in this election (Second Chamber): 3
Seats won in last election (Second Chamber): 4
Party: Political Reformed Party (SGP)
Leader:
Seats won in this election (Second Chamber): 2
Seats won in last election (Second Chamber): 2

When was the last election? Number of seats in last election?

Population and number of registered voters:

Of interest:

The legislative coalition between the CDA, LPF and VVD parties collapsed due to political in-fighting in the last parliament. After consultation with Queen Beatrix, BALKENENDE announced on October 16 that new elections must be held to replace parliament.
Prior to the coalition’s collapse, the LPF was the second largest majority within the States General with 26 seats. Due to the political in-fighting by the party within the party, it is expected that the LPF will lose several seats in the elections.

SOURCE: INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS (IFES)
For additional information: IFES ElectionGuide Online

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