Abstract
After World War II, the old Dutch pillarised social and political system reemerged. There was also a new and strong political consensus that as a small country the Netherlands would benefit from closer European economic collaboration. As a result, successive Dutch governments were proactive both in the development of BENELUX and in promoting and developing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy which currently has 16.4 million inhabitants. Given the Dutch multiparty and proportional representation system, all governments are coalitions. The current Balkenende IV government was voted into office in 2006 and is a centre (left) coalition made up of Christian democrats (Christian Democratic Appeal — CDA), the Labour Party (PvdA) and the Christian Union (CHU).
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References
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© 2010 Annemarie Sprokkereef
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Sprokkereef, A. (2010). The Netherlands. In: Lodge, J. (eds) The 2009 Elections to the European Parliament. EU Election Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230297272_22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230297272_22
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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