Farmers' Party (Netherlands)

The Farmers' Party (in Dutch: "Boerenpartij", BP) was a Dutch agrarian political party, with a strong conservative outlook and a populist appeal. The BP was the first anti-establishment party elected into the Tweede Kamer since the Second World War.

Party History

Foundation

It is not exactly sure when the BP was founded. In 1958 in several Gelderland municipalities "Free Farmers"-lists entered in municipal elections. In 1959 the Farmers' Party officially applied at the Kiesraad to participate in the 1959 elections the party was unable to win a seat. Founder of the party was Hendrik Koekoek, the chair and founder of the Association for Freedom for Agricultural Business, also known as the "Free Farmers". The organization resisted the increasing government interference and the institutionalization of farming. These also became important issues for the Farmers' Party.

1963-1981

In the elections of 1963 the Farmers' Party won three seats in the Tweede Kamer. The party had gained considerable attention when the police had forcibly confiscated farms whose farmers had not paid their taxes. Koekoek, the party's leader, came from the same region and acted as spokesperson for these farmers. With its populist appeal the party had been able to get the support from both farmers, and non-farmers, even from urban areas. He headed the party's list and became the chairperson of the parliamentary party. In 1966 the party won two seats in the Eerste Kamer.

In parliament the Boerenpartij was troubled by internal struggles and splits. In 1966 it was revealed that one of the party's senators, Adams, had a national socialist background, who had been a member of the National Socialist Movement and the SS. Koekoek protected Adams against the allegations. In reaction to that Voogd, one of the party's MPs, left the party. Also a group of members from the party founded their own party, Emergency Council ("Noodraad").

Both Emergency Council and Farmers' Party participated in the 1967 elections, as did Voogd with his own list. Only the Farmers' party managed to win a total of seven seats, both the Emergency Council as the List-Voogd ended up without any seat. In the next years Koekoek was (again) unable to keep his parliamentary party together. His authoritarian leadership caused four of the seven MPs to leave the party and to organize their own party, Allegiance Right ("Binding Rechts"). The were led by Harmsen, one of the founders of the Farmers' Party. One of these four MPs left his new party soon to work as an independent. In 1971 one of Koekoek's MPs also left his party, leaving only two MPs.

In the 1971 elections Koekoek obtained only one seat, Allegiance Right none. In the 1972 elections the party won two additional seats. In the 1977 elections the party lost those two seats again, leaving only Koekoek.

Dissolution

Before the elections of 1981 the BP was renamed to Rightwing People's Party ("Rechtse Volkspartij", RVP) but they were unable to win a seat.

Ideology & Issues

The party main issue was the increasing government interference and the institutionalization of farming. Yet it was more than single issue agrarian interest party. It saw itself as a conservative party which championed the political and economic freedom in general, on basis of national and christian values. It had a strong populist, anti-establishment appeal. Although some members had been active with fascist or national socialist organizations before 1945 the party rejected racism and fascism.

The party had strong nationalist message: the party was in favour of the Dutch monarchy, opposed European integration, wanted a strong defense. Law and order should be maintained.

On economic matters the party was very conservative. It wanted to protect private property and encourage private initiative. It sought to reduce government influence on the economyand taxation. The welfare state should be reduced to minimum. The agricultural subsidies should be cut, the agricultural sector would be able to support itself if the government interferred less.

upport & Leadership

In this table the election results of the BP in Tweede Kamer and Eerste Kamer elections is represented, as well as the party's political leadership: the fractievoorzitter, is the chair of the parliamentary party and the lijsttrekker is the party's top candidate in the general election, these posts are normally taken by the party's leader.

Muncipal and Provincial Government

The party has been able to win several seats in provincial legislatures and in municipal councils. In several rural municipalities such as Apeldoorn the party was rather strong, Harmsen, one of the party's MPs was a longterm aldermen there. However especially in the period 1965-1970 the party also managed to win municipal council seats in urban municipalities as Amsterdam, where they scored 9.4% (or 4 of 45 seats) in 1966.

Electorate

The party got most of its support from farmers and small business owners in rural areas. With its populist appeal the party had also been able to get the support from small business owners in urban areas. In the 1963 elections the party got 6,000 votes from Amsterdam.

International Comparison

As a conservative farmers' party, the Farmers' Party is similar to Eastern European farmers' parties, like the Polish Peasant Party. The best comparison however can be made with the party of Pierre Poujade which was successful in the 1956 elections, but faded away afterwards. Like Poujade's party the Farmers' Party had a strong populist message which appealed to both farmers and small business.