5 months ago
30
Voters cast ballots until 9pm in elections that could set country on different course after Mark Rutte’s four consecutive governments
What are the issues in the Dutch election today?
The last government fell over a bill to reduce asylum seekers, and cutting immigration – including foreign workers – remains a key issue for all main parties, as does the Dutch housing crisis: government-commissioned research suggests the country lacks 390,000 homes.
At first I wanted to vote for one of the smaller left-wing parties but once I saw the polls, I realised I had to vote for GreenLeft/Labour because I don’t want PVV to win. The environment and living conditions are the most important topics for me. I don’t foresee a left-wing government but this is the least I can do.
Internationally, I have been very happy with the way VVD’s Mark Rutte has presented our country. Yes, mistakes have been made, but I believe the party will learn from them.
It was a last-minute decision, I thought about it a lot. Many of my left-leaning friends are voting strategically for GreenLeft/Labour because they hope the party becomes the biggest. I thought about it too, but there are a few topics that I disagree with them on, including their lack of support for Palestine. In the end, I wanted to stick to my convictions.
I voted for the Farmer-citizen movement (BBB) because I know how hard it is for them. My parents are farmers and I know first-hand how much they struggle. Other parties go too far with their climate change proposals which is hurting normal working class people. I don’t agree with everything that BBB proposes but I appreciate how they are trying to help the countryside.
I voted for GreenLeft/Labour because of our future. As I got older, I started thinking less about what benefits me directly and more about our role on this planet and about climate change. The climate is one of my main reasons for voting for GreenLeft/Labour. I hope we can avoid a right-wing government, although I am not very optimistic.
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