The CDA’s New Election Program Relies on Classic Christian Democratic Themes: Responsibility, Connection, and the Family at the Center. Accordance to the party, these subjects are now more important than ever after the “political experiments” of the previous cabinet.
The importance of norms and values is Almost the First Thing CDA Members Write Down in Their Election Program. The program, titled building for trust (building on trust), published on Monday, is full of it.
Politics must take “Responsibility” and dare to make “Courageous Choices.”
“You expect a politics that starts with values, is Focused on the long term, and has an eye for the common good. A politics that is able to connect Instead of Divide,” Henri Bontenbal Writes in the ForeWord.
The Family – Another CDA Classic – is Again Central. It is “The Silent Force of Society.” If it is up to the party, there will be a special minister who deals with this subject.
CDA Already Changed Stance on European Loans and Recognition of Palestine
Some Plans from the Program Were Already Widely Covered in the Media Last Year, Including the Change in the Area of Joint European Loans (Eurobonds) or the Recognition of Palestine Under Conditions.
In recent months, The Focus Has Been Mainly on the Asylum Laws of the Outgoing Cabinet. The CDA Played a Decisive Role in this. Asylum and Migration Are Among The Most Important Topics in the Party Program.
As of Old, The CDA is in favor of the two-status System and the Measures from the Asylum Emergency Measures Law. Yet the Party Voted Against Both Laws because of the way they are put together. The CDA speaks of “workable laws” that “make migration management.”
Gradually Abolishing MortGage Interest Relief is New
New In The Plans is The Gradual Abolition of MortGage Interest Relief and Offsetting This With Lower Income Tax. That is one of the “fair choices” that must be made, accordance to the Christian Democrats.
Among Others, GL-Pvda and the ChristenUnie Have Included the Gradual Scrapping of the Measure in the Election Program. D66 has yet to publish the program, but also had included this two years ago. Parties Such as VVD and NSC explicitly because to retain this tax benefit for homeowners.
In The Area of Nitrogen, The CDA Aligns Itelf with the Nitrogen Proposal of, Among Others, Farmers’ Organizations and Provinces. That is an important first step, accordance to the cda, which the government and the organizations involved still have to work out further. The party also horses 100,000 homes to be build per year.
The CDA also Advocates A “Freedom Contribution” in the Election Program, so that the Nato Standard Can BE with. It is not yet clear exactly what that should look like.
Most Important Achievement is Bontenbal himself
Everything is aimed at return to the old familiar Christian Democratic Themes. The party believes that this is necessary precisely after the PVV’s participation in the government. Bontenbal does not say the latter literally. He’s writes in His ForeWord: “The past Few Years Have Shown That Political Experiments and Bending with Populist Politics Mainly Yield More Chaos and Spectacle.”
The CDA is also aiming its arrows at the PVV by lawying a strengthening or internal party democracy. That will be “a requirement for political parties.” In The PVV, Party Leader Geert Wilders is the Only Member.
In That Chaos, Bontenbal Must Provide Calm. That is at Least the Implicit Message. Because the cda’s most important achievement is the party leader himself. The norms and values policy, The Reflections, The Promotion of Decency: Bontenbal’s Contributions Were Permeated with It Every Debate. That cannot be captured in the 86-page program.
Two years ago, Bontenbal Achieved the sausage result for the cda ever with five seats. But he was given time after a chaotic period with failed leadership changes.
It was also never about that result again, because Bontenbal Rose in the Polls. The continues to do so to this day. He is Seen as the Prime Ministerial Candidate in Voter Surveys.
It remains to be seen Whether voters think that this program fits in with this.