Early general elections were held in the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

on 12 September 2012 after Prime Minister

Mark Rutte Mark Rutte (; born 14 February 1967) is a Dutch politician who has served as the 14th Secretary General of NATO, secretary general of NATO since October 2024. He previously served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, prime minister of the Neth ...

handed in his government's resignation to

Queen Beatrix Beatrix (Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, ; born 31 January 1938) is a member of the Dutch royal house who reigned as Queen of the Netherlands from 30 April 1980 until her abdication in 2013. Beatrix was born during the reign of her maternal gr ...

on 23 April. The 150 seats of the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

were contested using

party-list proportional representation Party-list proportional representation (list-PR) is a system of proportional representation based on preregistered Political party, political parties, with each party being Apportionment (politics), allocated a certain number of seats Apportionm ...

. The

People's Party for Freedom and Democracy The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ( , VVD) is a Conservative liberalism, conservative-liberal List of political parties in the Netherlands, political party in the Netherlands. The VVD, whose forerunner was the Freedom Party (Netherl ...

(VVD) received a plurality of the votes, followed by the Labour Party (PvdA). Prior to the election, polls had predicted an increase in support for the Socialist Party, primarily at the expense of the PvdA, but the PvdA regained support during the campaign, which was attributed to the leadership of Diederik Samsom and in the election the Socialist Party failed to improve its performance. The

Party for Freedom The Party for Freedom ( , PVV) is a right-wing populist, far-right political party in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders is the founder, party leader, and sole registered member of the party. Founded in 2006 as the successor to Wilders' one-ma ...

(PVV) and

Christian Democratic Appeal The Christian Democratic Appeal ( , CDA) is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in the Netherlands. Formed as a federation in 1975 by the Catholic People's Party, the Anti-Revolutionary Party, and the Christian Historical ...

(CDA) both lost seats. After 49 days of negotiations, a new VVD-PvdA centrist government was formed on 5 November 2012, comprising Mark Rutte as prime minister along with 7 VVD ministers and 6 PvdA ministers. It was the first Netherlands-wide election in which the

Caribbean Netherlands The Caribbean Netherlands (, ) is a geographic region of the Netherlands located outside of Europe, in the Caribbean, consisting of three special municipalities. These are the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba (island), Saba,"Bonair ...

participated.

Background

Prime Minister

's government fell after the

(PVV), which had supported the government from outside, refused to sanction the austerity measures the government sought in April 2012. This called for a new early election to be held in September 2012. It is the fourth early election in a row since the Second Kok cabinet fell very near the end of its mandate, which allowed that government to keep the election date to be held as scheduled by the term in May 2002. Early elections were subsequently held in January 2003, November 2006, June 2010 and September 2012. And during that time a total of five governments ended prematurely, as it was possible for the Third Balkenende cabinet (July–November 2006) to be formed without a new election.

Participating parties

In addition to the established parties of Dutch politics, the pensioners' party

50PLUS 50PLUS (; abbreviated 50+) is a list of political parties in the Netherlands, political party in the Netherlands that advocates List of pensioners' parties, pensioners' interests with a Centrism, centrist political line. The party was founded in ...

, founded in 2009, won its first seats in the election. The

Pirate Party Pirate Party is a label adopted by various Political party, political parties worldwide that share a set of values and policies focused on Civil and political rights, civil rights in the digital age. The fundamental principles of Pirate Partie ...

claimed that it may enter parliament for the first time with 2 or 3 seats. However, the party achieved only 0.3% of the national vote and no seats. Hero Brinkman, elected on the

's list, split from the party in March 2012 and founded the Independent Citizens' Party in April 2012 to run in the election on his own. In June 2012, the party merged with Proud of the Netherlands (a party founded by Rita Verdonk, who had resigned from the position of party leader) to form the Democratic Political Turning Point, with Brinkman as leader. The party achieved 0.1% of the national vote and no seats.

Polls

ImageSize = width:950 height:350 PlotArea = left:40 right:70 top:20 bottom:30 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal AlignBars = justify Colors = id:gray1 value:gray(0.9) id:gray2 value:gray(0.8) DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:13 till:38 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:13 PlotData = bar:50 color:gray1 width:1 from:start till:end bar:40 color:gray1 from:start till:end bar:30 color:gray1 from:start till:end bar:20 color:gray1 from:start till:end bar:10 color:gray1 from:start till:end bar:0 color:gray1 TextData = pos:(420,0) textcolor:black fontsize:S text: Week number (2012) pos:(0,190) textcolor:black fontsize:S text: Seats pos:(172,325) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:"Collapse of Rutte I" pos:(735,325) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:"Party leaders' debate" pos:(850,325) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:"Polling day" pos:(143,48) text:April pos:(286,48) text:May pos:(415,48) text:June pos:(547,48) text:July pos:(680,48) text:August pos:(833,48) text:September Colors = id:vvd value:oceanblue legend:VVD id:pvda value:red legend:PvdA id:pvv value:darkblue legend:PVV id:cda value:rgb(0,1,0) legend:CDA id:sp value:rgb(0.8,0,0.165) legend:SP id:d66 value:green legend:D66 id:gl value:yellowgreen legend:GL id:cu value:orange legend:CU id:sgp value:yellow legend:SGP id:pvdd value:pink legend:PvdD id:50+ value:blue legend:50+ id:obp value:purple legend:DPK Legend = left:900 top:250 LineData = points: (170,30)(170,330) color:gray2 layer:back width:0.5 # verticale lijn tussen wk 7 en 8, val kabinet points: (735,30)(735,330) color:gray1 layer:back width:0.5 # verticale lijn Premiersdebat (eerste debat met hoofdrolspelers) points: (850,30)(850,330) color:gray2 layer:back width:0.5 # verticale lijn verkiezingsdag points: (70,30)(70,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # april points: (220,30)(220,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # mei points: (370,30)(370,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # juni points: (520,30)(520,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # juli points: (670,30)(670,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # augustus points: (820,30)(820,40) color:black layer:back width:0.5 # september layer:front # VVD points: (41,225)(95,240) color:vvd width:2 points: (95,240)(160,250) color:vvd width:2 points: (160,250)(190,230) color:vvd width:2 points: (190,230)(220,240) color:vvd width:2 points: (220,240)(250,227) color:vvd width:2 points: (250,227)(280,213) color:vvd width:2 points: (280,213)(310,209) color:vvd width:2 points: (310,209)(340,217) color:vvd width:2 points: (340,217)(400,234) color:vvd width:2 points: (400,234)(475,217) color:vvd width:2 points: (475,217)(500,238) color:vvd width:2 points: (500,238)(530,244) color:vvd width:2 points: (530,244)(600,238) color:vvd width:2 points: (600,238)(670,217) color:vvd width:2 points: (670,217)(700,238) color:vvd width:2 points: (700,238)(730,234) color:vvd width:2 points: (730,234)(760,234) color:vvd width:2 points: (760,234)(780,238) color:vvd width:2 points: (780,238)(800,234) color:vvd width:2 points: (800,234)(820,238) color:vvd width:2 layer:front # PvdA points: (41,185)(95,185) color:pvda width:2 points: (95,185)(160,190) color:pvda width:2 points: (160,190)(190,180) color:pvda width:2 points: (190,180)(220,170) color:pvda width:2 points: (220,170)(250,165) color:pvda width:2 points: (250,165)(280,175) color:pvda width:2 points: (280,175)(310,180) color:pvda width:2 points: (310,180)(340,176) color:pvda width:2 points: (340,176)(400,173) color:pvda width:2 points: (400,173)(475,167) color:pvda width:2 points: (475,167)(500,176) color:pvda width:2 points: (500,176)(530,167) color:pvda width:2 points: (530,167)(600,167) color:pvda width:2 points: (600,167)(670,165) color:pvda width:2 points: (670,165)(700,167) color:pvda width:2 points: (700,167)(730,162) color:pvda width:2 points: (730,162)(760,180) color:pvda width:2 points: (760,180)(780,207) color:pvda width:2 points: (780,207)(800,223) color:pvda width:2 points: (800,223)(820,238) color:pvda width:2 layer:front # PVV points: (41,155)(95,150) color:pvv width:2 points: (95,150)(160,140) color:pvv width:2 points: (160,140)(190,140) color:pvv width:2 points: (190,140)(220,135) color:pvv width:2 points: (220,135)(250,145) color:pvv width:2 points: (250,145)(280,155) color:pvv width:2 points: (280,155)(310,150) color:pvv width:2 points: (310,150)(340,158) color:pvv width:2 points: (340,158)(400,168) color:pvv width:2 points: (400,168)(475,150) color:pvv width:2 points: (475,150)(500,140) color:pvv width:2 points: (500,140)(530,145) color:pvv width:2 points: (530,145)(600,140) color:pvv width:2 points: (600,140)(670,145) color:pvv width:2 points: (670,145)(700,140) color:pvv width:2 points: (700,140)(730,145) color:pvv width:2 points: (730,145)(760,150) color:pvv width:2 points: (760,150)(780,140) color:pvv width:2 points: (780,140)(800,150) color:pvv width:2 points: (800,150)(820,145) color:pvv width:2 layer:front # CDA points: (41,115)(95,110) color:cda width:2 points: (95,110)(160,105) color:cda width:2 points: (160,105)(190,110) color:cda width:2 points: (190,110)(220,115) color:cda width:2 points: (220,115)(250,125) color:cda width:2 points: (250,125)(280,125) color:cda width:2 points: (280,125)(310,125) color:cda width:2 points: (310,125)(340,117) color:cda width:2 points: (340,117)(400,105) color:cda width:2 points: (400,105)(475,117) color:cda width:2 points: (475,117)(500,117) color:cda width:2 points: (500,117)(530,125) color:cda width:2 points: (530,125)(600,120) color:cda width:2 points: (600,120)(670,120) color:cda width:2 points: (670,120)(700,117) color:cda width:2 points: (700,117)(730,117) color:cda width:2 points: (730,117)(760,114) color:cda width:2 points: (760,114)(780,117) color:cda width:2 points: (780,117)(800,110) color:cda width:2 points: (800,110)(820,114) color:cda width:2 layer:front # D66 points: (41,100)(95,110) color:d66 width:2 points: (95,110)(160,110) color:d66 width:2 points: (160,110)(190,125) color:d66 width:2 points: (190,125)(220,120) color:d66 width:2 points: (220,120)(250,120) color:d66 width:2 points: (250,120)(280,120) color:d66 width:2 points: (280,120)(310,125) color:d66 width:2 points: (310,125)(340,121) color:d66 width:2 points: (340,121)(400,121) color:d66 width:2 points: (400,121)(475,117) color:d66 width:2 points: (475,117)(500,112) color:d66 width:2 points: (500,112)(530,112) color:d66 width:2 points: (530,112)(600,117) color:d66 width:2 points: (600,117)(670,120) color:d66 width:2 points: (670,120)(700,117) color:d66 width:2 points: (700,117)(730,117) color:d66 width:2 points: (730,117)(760,117) color:d66 width:2 points: (760,117)(780,117) color:d66 width:2 points: (780,117)(800,114) color:d66 width:2 points: (800,114)(820,108) color:d66 width:2 layer:front # SP points: (41,185)(95,180) color:sp width:2 points: (95,180)(160,185) color:sp width:2 points: (160,185)(190,185) color:sp width:2 points: (190,185)(220,195) color:sp width:2 points: (220,195)(250,195) color:sp width:2 points: (250,195)(280,190) color:sp width:2 points: (280,190)(310,190) color:sp width:2 points: (310,190)(340,190) color:sp width:2 points: (340,190)(400,185) color:sp width:2 points: (400,185)(475,195) color:sp width:2 points: (475,195)(500,200) color:sp width:2 points: (500,200)(530,185) color:sp width:2 points: (530,185)(600,200) color:sp width:2 points: (600,200)(670,210) color:sp width:2 points: (670,210)(700,203) color:sp width:2 points: (700,203)(730,207) color:sp width:2 points: (730,207)(760,190) color:sp width:2 points: (760,190)(780,170) color:sp width:2 points: (780,170)(800,160) color:sp width:2 points: (800,160)(820,155) color:sp width:2 layer:front # GL points: (41,75)(95,65) color:gl width:2 points: (95,65)(160,60) color:gl width:2 points: (160,60)(190,60) color:gl width:2 points: (190,60)(220,65) color:gl width:2 points: (220,65)(250,60) color:gl width:2 points: (250,60)(280,60) color:gl width:2 points: (280,60)(310,60) color:gl width:2 points: (310,60)(340,58) color:gl width:2 points: (340,58)(400,58) color:gl width:2 points: (400,58)(475,58) color:gl width:2 points: (475,58)(500,52) color:gl width:2 points: (500,52)(530,58) color:gl width:2 points: (530,58)(600,52) color:gl width:2 points: (600,52)(670,52) color:gl width:2 points: (670,52)(700,52) color:gl width:2 points: (700,52)(730,58) color:gl width:2 points: (730,58)(760,52) color:gl width:2 points: (760,52)(780,45) color:gl width:2 layer:front # CU points: (41,60)(95,60) color:cu width:2 points: (95,60)(160,60) color:cu width:2 points: (160,60)(190,65) color:cu width:2 points: (190,65)(220,60) color:cu width:2 points: (220,60)(250,60) color:cu width:2 points: (250,60)(280,60) color:cu width:2 points: (280,60)(310,60) color:cu width:2 points: (310,60)(340,60) color:cu width:2 points: (340,60)(400,62) color:cu width:2 points: (400,62)(475,65) color:cu width:2 points: (475,65)(500,63) color:cu width:2 points: (500,63)(530,60) color:cu width:2 points: (530,60)(600,63) color:cu width:2 points: (600,63)(670,63) color:cu width:2 points: (670,63)(700,60) color:cu width:2 points: (700,60)(730,63) color:cu width:2 points: (730,63)(760,60) color:cu width:2 points: (760,60)(780,52) color:cu width:2 points: (780,52)(800,63) color:cu width:2 points: (800,63)(820,63) color:cu width:2 layer:front # SGP points: (41,40)(95,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (95,40)(160,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (160,40)(190,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (190,40)(220,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (220,40)(250,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (250,40)(280,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (280,40)(310,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (310,40)(340,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (340,40)(400,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (400,40)(475,45) color:sgp width:2 points: (475,45)(500,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (500,40)(530,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (530,40)(600,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (600,40)(670,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (670,40)(700,45) color:sgp width:2 points: (700,45)(730,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (730,40)(760,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (760,40)(780,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (780,40)(800,40) color:sgp width:2 points: (800,40)(820,40) color:sgp width:2 layer:front # PvdD points: (41,42)(95,42) color:pvdd width:2 points: (95,42)(160,50) color:pvdd width:2 points: (160,50)(190,42) color:pvdd width:2 points: (190,42)(220,50) color:pvdd width:2 points: (220,50)(250,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (250,45)(280,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (280,45)(310,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (310,45)(340,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (340,45)(400,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (400,45)(475,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (475,45)(500,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (500,45)(530,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (530,45)(600,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (600,45)(670,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (670,45)(700,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (700,45)(730,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (730,45)(760,52) color:pvdd width:2 points: (760,52)(780,52) color:pvdd width:2 points: (780,52)(800,45) color:pvdd width:2 points: (800,45)(820,45) color:pvdd width:2 layer:front # 50+ points: (41,35)(95,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (95,35)(160,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (160,35)(190,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (190,35)(220,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (220,35)(250,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (250,35)(280,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (280,35)(310,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (310,35)(340,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (340,35)(400,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (400,35)(475,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (475,35)(500,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (500,35)(530,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (530,35)(600,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (600,35)(670,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (670,35)(700,39) color:50+ width:2 points: (700,39)(730,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (730,35)(760,35) color:50+ width:2 points: (760,35)(780,39) color:50+ width:2 points: (780,39)(800,39) color:50+ width:2 points: (800,39)(820,35) color:50+ width:2 layer:front # DPK points: (41,28)(95,28) color:obp width:2 points: (95,28)(160,28) color:obp width:2 points: (160,28)(190,33) color:obp width:2 points: (190,33)(220,28) color:obp width:2 points: (220,28)(250,28) color:obp width:2 points: (250,28)(280,28) color:obp width:2 points: (280,28)(310,28) color:obp width:2 points: (310,28)(340,28) color:obp width:2 points: (340,28)(400,28) color:obp width:2 points: (400,28)(475,28) color:obp width:2 points: (475,28)(500,28) color:obp width:2 points: (500,28)(530,28) color:obp width:2 points: (530,28)(600,28) color:obp width:2 points: (600,28)(670,28) color:obp width:2 points: (670,28)(700,28) color:obp width:2 points: (700,28)(730,28) color:obp width:2 points: (730,28)(760,28) color:obp width:2 points: (760,28)(780,28) color:obp width:2 points: (780,28)(800,28) color:obp width:2 points: (800,28)(820,28) color:obp width:2

Natixis BPCE (for Banque Populaire Caisse d'Epargne) is a major French banking group formed by the 2009 merger of two major retail banking groups, Groupe Caisse d'Épargne and Groupe Banque Populaire. As of 2021, it was France's fourth-largest bank, t ...

evaluated on 6 September the most recent opinion polls, and found the likelihood was strongest for the formation of a "purple government" of the pro-EU parties: VVD, CDA, D66, PvdA and, possible GL. It also pointed to other potential governing coalition that would include a pro-austerity government with VVD, CDA, D66, GL and CU; or a centre-left government of CDA, D66, GL and PvdA with a minority of seats, but with outside parliamentary support of the SP. The two largest

eurosceptic Euroscepticism, also spelled as Euroskepticism or EU-scepticism, is a political position involving criticism of the European Union (EU) and European integration. It ranges from those who oppose some EU institutions and policies and seek refor ...

parties, PVV and SP, are reportedly not interested in building a coalition. A similar scenario to the previous election could re-occur, considering no pre-election alliance will receive votes enough for majority, and thus needs to form a new more broad coalition government, comprising at least three parties.

Pre-election agreements

On 27 April, the two governing coalition parties, VVD and CDA negotiated a deal to reduce the national deficit in 2013 to an acceptable level below 3% of GDP. This deal was also supported by the three opposition parties: D66, GL and the CU. A ratification of the newly signed Fiscal Compact is unconditionally supported by the four parties: VVD, CDA, D66 and GL. The compact is however opposed by the three parties: PVV, CU and SP, while the PvdA, will only support it provided that the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...

first grant the Netherlands a two-year exemption to comply, due to the existence of "extraordinary economic circumstances."

Campaign

The VVD's Mark Rutte is said to be aligned with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in promoting austerity measures, while his closest rival the PvdA's Diederik Samsom's was said to reflect French President Francois Hollande's stimulus measures from its own election this year. A final television debate took place on 11 September, with the economy reportedly the most important issue amongst voters. The day before the debate, Rutte said that he would stop delegating ever increasing powers to the European Union saying: "I am 'Mr No' when it comes to a Brussels that's expanding more and more." Conversely, Samsom said that he was in coordination with Hollande over dealing with the economic crisis. Support for him and the PvdA grew after he was perceived as having the better performance in the debates. He also rejected taking cabinet posts in a coalition government saying: "I will either be prime minister, or I will lead my party in parliament." The vote was also seen as a test of the EU's popularity within the country. Political analyst Anno Bunnik said that many voters were not keen on repeated early elections. He also pointed to PVV's Geert Wilders' declining popularity after he was viewed as a political opportunist not looking out for the national interest in effectively forcing a

snap election A snap election is an election that is called earlier than the one that has been scheduled. Snap elections in parliamentary systems are often called to resolve a political impasse such as a hung parliament where no single political party has a ma ...

. In citing Wilders' labeling as a "sorcerer's apprentice," he also pointed to a possible first-ever loss of seats for the PVV under Wilder's helm. He attributed this to Wilders' inefficiency in the debates of responding to the other party leaders instead of setting the agenda, instead in one debate he got into an argument with Rutte with both leaders calling each other liars in an unprecedented move. Though opinion polls indicated a close race to gain a majority, the international media indicated a left-leaning government was likely to emerge as a result of the election. However, the French election was cited and countered as a turn in orientation for the government would still not lead to a change in austerity policies.

Results

There was a turn-out of 74.6%, about one percent less than the previous election two years before. The NOS reported the following results after 100% of the votes were counted:"Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 2012: Uitslag"
(Dutch). NOS. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012. * The VVD won the most votes (26.6%), accruing 41 seats (an increase of 10). * The PvdA was second (24.8%), accruing 38 seats (an increase of 8). * The PVV was third (10.1%), with 15 seats (a loss of nine, down from 24 seats), and obtained the same number of seats as the SP (15). * The GL lost six of its ten seats and just under two-thirds of their voters. The Kiesraad announced the final results on 17 September.Verkiezingsuitslagen

Kerngegevens Tweede Kamerverkiezing 2012
(Dutch). Kiesraad. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
(Dutch). NOS. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.

By province

References

{{Sint Eustatius elections

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

2012 elections in the Caribbean

2012 elections in the Netherlands September 2012 in Europe