SAEDNEWS: 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.
A new Ipsos survey has revealed a dramatic collapse in Dutch voter confidence, with only 29% of citizens now saying they trust politics—while 68% express little or no faith in the system.
Trust briefly rose to 44% a year ago when the coalition government 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. But that optimism has since evaporated.
“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.
The data shows just how far confidence has collapsed:
Among PVV supporters, trust plunged from 50% to 14%.
Among BBB voters, it dropped from 57% to 13%.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents said Dutch politics is “preoccupied with itself, incapable of cooperation, and does not solve problems.” Dissatisfaction is sharpest with asylum and migration (68%), housing (64%), and healthcare (53%). Over 87% of PVV voters disapprove of the government’s immigration policy.
The NSC, once lifted by voter trust, has now all but vanished in polling—hovering at or near zero seats.
Economic outlook is equally grim: 44% of respondents expect conditions to worsen in the next year, compared to only 7% who foresee improvement. And just 18% believe Dutch politics will function better after the October 29 election.
