Dutch Voters Dissatisfied with Politics Ahead of Election: NOS Poll
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Most Dutch voters have little confidence in national politics and expect no improvement after next month's parliamentary election, according to a poll published Tuesday by public broadcaster NOS.
The Ipsos survey found only 29 percent of voters trust politics, while 68 percent have little or no confidence. Trust briefly rose to 44 percent a year ago when the cabinet of the Party for Freedom (PVV), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) and the New Social Contract (NSC) took office, Xinhua reported.
"PVV and BBB voters expected their interests to be better represented under the Schoof cabinet, but that has not materialized," Ipsos researcher Asher van der Schelde told NOS.
Among PVV supporters, trust has collapsed from 50 percent to 14 percent. Confidence among BBB voters dropped from 57 percent to 13 percent.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents said "politics is preoccupied with itself, incapable of cooperation and does not solve problems." Dissatisfaction is highest with asylum and migration policy (68 percent), housing (64 percent) and healthcare (53 percent). More than 87 percent of PVV voters disapprove of immigration policy.
The NSC, once buoyed by rising trust, has now lost nearly all support and polls at or near zero seats.
Economic sentiment is also bleak: 44 percent expect conditions to worsen in the coming year, while only 7 percent foresee improvement.
Only 18 percent believe Dutch politics will function better after the October 29 election, NOS said.
