Rightward Shift Likely in Dutch Vote

[alp227]

Source: Associated Press

Filed at 8:50 a.m. ET

AMSTERDAM (AP) -- Voters appeared likely to shift the Netherlands to the right in national elections Wednesday dominated by concerns over the rising national debt and discontent over immigration.

The conservative VVD party under leader Mark Rutte holds a solid lead in opinion surveys, running on a deficit-busting, tough-on-immigration platform. The overtly anti-Islam Freedom Party of Geert Wilders, which wants a ban on all immigration from nonwestern countries, also appears set to book large gains, perhaps doubling its current strength in parliament.

A softer approach promoted by left-leaning parties, including former Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen's Labor Party, is unlikely to win a majority, though Labor is running second in polls and has made a late surge.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/06/09/world/europe/AP-EU-Netherlands-Election.html

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In other news, American Tea Partiers read this and started screaming like teenage girls watching Twilight. This so far seems like their fantasy land. The article reports later that Rutte wants to raise health care costs. Seems like ObamaCare in reverse.

[saigon68]

1. discontent over immigration

Ah Capitalism--- keep the wages low for the rich

[glinda]

2. They will go from first place in the "happiest people" to quite a bit lower on the list.

[fascisthunter]

4. THAT is a guarantee

[Go2Peace]

3. There *is* an international Republican organization working to change these countries

I could not believe it when a friend of mine mentioned he could get me a job working with the Republicans, in a former Soviet Union Country (he didn't know my politics)! They have quietly created an organization working throughout the world to make a worldwide conservative movement in their image.

That was some years ago, so they are obviously making headway.

[glinda]

6. For sure they are.

[Blue_Tires]

5. well, even in spite of their anti-islam scapegoating

I imagine issue-for-issue these Dutch 'conservatives' are probably still to the left of anyone in the U.S. political sphere...

[pampango]

7. At least the two left-wing parties are the big vote getters. The right's obsession with immigration

hopefully won't be reflected in Dutch government policy since the Christian Democrats (center-right) are losing half their seats even though the far-right did well.