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Dutch animal rights party wins 2 seats in election
Small-interest parties have sprung up in the Netherlands in recent years, fuelled in part by the country's liberal roots, and as people become more aware of environmental issues.
Dutch animal rights party wins 2 seats in election
Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:12 PM GMT
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch animal rights party has become the first animal interest group to enter a European parliament, the group said on its Web site on Thursday, after winning two seats in the country's general election.
The Party for Animals, founded in October 2002 and with a smiling dairy cow as its logo, was one of 24 parties vying for seats in Wednesday's election, which saw the ruling Christian Democrats remain the largest party.
"We are thrilled with such a wonderful result," said party leader Marianne Thieme.
"Finally, we can start realising our party's highest priority, namely ending all animal suffering," the law graduate said.
Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:12 PM GMT
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch animal rights party has become the first animal interest group to enter a European parliament, the group said on its Web site on Thursday, after winning two seats in the country's general election.
The Party for Animals, founded in October 2002 and with a smiling dairy cow as its logo, was one of 24 parties vying for seats in Wednesday's election, which saw the ruling Christian Democrats remain the largest party.
"We are thrilled with such a wonderful result," said party leader Marianne Thieme.
"Finally, we can start realising our party's highest priority, namely ending all animal suffering," the law graduate said.
For more information:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenew...
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24|11|06
Marianne Thieme
The Netherlands is facing political uncertainty after the ruling Christian Democrat (CDA) party scraped a narrow win in the country's elections.
Political leaders will now face weeks of difficult negotiations to form a coalition. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's CDA party won 41 seats in the 150-strong Parliament. The opposition Labour party secured 32 seats, while the Party for Animals became the first animal rights party to win seats in a Parliament in Europe.
Outgoing Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm offered a bleak view of the result.
"It's chaos," Mr Zalm, a member of the Liberal party was quoted by Reuters as saying. "The real winner is the only party that actually did not participate, which is the party of the anarchists."
A government is unlikely to be formed for several weeks after voters appeared to abandon the mainstream parties in favour of parties on the hard left and right. The former Communist Socialist party made the biggest gains, taking third place with 26 seats. It is thought that many Muslims voted for the party in protest at the tough stance on immigration adopted by the main parties.