Dutch citizens will go the polls on Wednesday 12 September. Elections were called after the populist Freedom party (PVV) withdrew its support for Mark Rutte’s (VVD) coalition government. Coming weekend, both ELDR members VVD and D66 will hold an electoral Congress to launch their election campaign.
The VVD led by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will kick of their campaign in Rotterdam on Saturday 25 August. The baseline of the campaign is “Don’t postpone getting the budget under control”. VVD will aim for a budget surplus by 2017, to be realised by budget cuts and a leaner government. At the same time, the party wants to invest in education, infrastructure and security.
“Let’s progress now” is the slogan of social-liberal D66, led by Alexander Pechtold. His party wants the country to progress which according to D66 can be realised by achieving “new growth” through trade with upcoming markets and sustainable growth in resources and energy. D66 will kick off their campaign in The Hague on 24 and 25 August.
According to recent polls, both parties are expected to increase their support compared to their results in the 2010 parliamentary elections.