Christian Democrats win strongly in Holland

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The party lost massively in the 2023 elections, from fifteen to five seats. In the exit poll after the vote, it seems that CDA will have nineteen seats again.

During the campaign, there was even the expectation that the Christian Democrats would finish as the largest party in the Lower House with their leader, Henri Bontenbal, as prime minister. The preliminary exit poll suggests that the Social Liberal D66 will finish as the largest group.

During the campaign, there was much debate about the freedom of education. The Dutch Constitution guarantees freedom (including equal funding) for Christian schools. The secular media and liberal parties are continually debating the freedom at those schools regarding sexual ethics and the social safety for homosexual pupils. When Bontenbal was growing in the opinion polls, he was asked about this a few times. The impression he made was that he was not empathetic enough for a party that is fit for government.

Painful loss for Christian parties in Dutch elections

22-11-2023

CDA is a moderate Christian party. Regarding abortion and euthanasia, the party has never been explicitly pro-life. Concerning marriage and family, the party voted against the opening of marriage for homosexuals in 2000. But in the years after this, the Christian Democrats came to embrace gay marriage.

As soon as the final election result is known, coalition building will start. It seems that the Social Liberal D66 will have the lead in this. This is the party that is usually the most critical of Christian values, like traditional marriage and the freedom for Christian schools to have their own curriculum.

The two other Christian parties remained relatively stable. The Reformed SGP stayed at three seats, while the ChristenUnie had to give up one seat and finish with two seats.

Written on the basis of preliminary exit poll.