The Weekly Forum - 21 November

For decades, the Netherlands and many other European countries have been governed by coalitions hammered out behind closed doors, after parties horse-trade parts of their manifestos to gain this or that ministry. Only FVD sees through this monstrous charade. Lidewij de Vos explained with devastating clarity recently that there were big majorities in the new parliament for certain policies – on immigration, on nuclear power, on health care. Yet the tradition is that electoral promises disappear once the long process of government formation starts. Why not hold a vote on those policies, confirm the majorities and then create a technical government under a chairman-prime minister to implement them?  That would at least respect the voters. The idea is brilliant and simple – but will it be accepted? Don’t hold your breath.

Watch Lidewij’s speech here

Unfortunately we did not have to wait for a new government to see these promises disappear like the morning mist. Lidewij put down motions on the various policy areas for which, according to the very recent election manifestos, there are majorities in the Lower House. On migration; on mortgage relief; on nuclear energy; on healthcare – one after another, her motions were rejected by the very parties which had just got themselves elected on these issues. Can there be any clearer illustration that the current democratic system is a con-trick?

Read about Lidewij’s motions here

Meanwhile, the Dutch government – on autopilot, apparently, because the new government has not been formed yet – is preparing to demolish a village in the name of energy transition. It is surely the height of climate madness to destroy a centuries-old village in the name of ecology. Can there be any harsher symbolism of the cruelty and inhumanity of the climate industry than this? It appears that the decision was taken by the local council without even consulting the inhabitants of the village, who learned about it in the media. FVD’s newest member of parliament, Peter van Duyvenvoorde (above), director of FVD’s cultural think-tank, the Renaissance Institute, who was sworn in to the Lower Chamber recently, has taken up the cause of the village and, together with Pepijn van Houwelingen, put down a number of questions to the government about this scandalous and terrible decision.

Read the article about Moerdijk here

Stephen Baskerville was our guest on The Forum this week, with a tantalising thesis – that feminism is at the root of all revolutions and that the sexual revolution is a racket to emasculate men and promote female bureaucrats. If you missed it, listen back.

Listen to The Forum here