Opinion pollster Maurice de Hond asked:
"Do you think the Queen should only have a ceremonial role in the Netherlands and not a political one?"
In April 2007, 41 percent of those asked agreed. Now that has risen to 50 percent.
Historian Thomas van der Dunk had this reaction to the poll result:
"It's certainly a striking outcome. The popularity of the Dutch Royal House rises and falls all the time. But it's remarkable that so many people now think she shouldn't be involved with politics."
Christmas speech
The question is topical because Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders reacted angrily to the recent Christmas Speech, given every year by Queen Beatrix. In her speech, the Head of State pleaded for tolerance, which Mr Wilders saw as an attack on his party. The anti-immigration party takes a strong position against the influence of Islam and the European Union in the Netherlands. Wilders wants to limit the functions of the Head of State to a ceremonial role.
| Ministerial Responsibility |
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The Queen and the ministers together make up the Government. Under the Constitution, which dates from 1848, the ministers and not the monarch are responsible for affairs of government.
No legislation can come about without a minister being accountable for it to Parliament. Acts of Parliament and Royal Decrees, the latter not requiring the approval of Parliament, are always signed by the Queen, who thereby gives them the royal assent, and countersigned by a minister who accepts full constitutional responsibility for them.
In this way, the Queen exercises her authority as head of state, and the minister his constitutional responsibility.
(Source: Dutch Royal House offical website) |
History
In 1918, Social-Democratic leader Pieter Jelles Troelstra was still arguing for the abolition of the monarchy. His argument was soundly rejected by practically the whole of Dutch politics and society. Nevertheless, the role of the Royal House is frequently the subject of discussion.
In 2000 Thom de Graaff, leader of the democratic D66 Party, already argued that the Head of State should step out of the government. But he didn't want a purely ceremonial function: the Queen still had a role: "to warn, to encourage, to consult." De Graaf's report created a lot of excitement amongst the public and politicians. But the country still wasn't ready for her to leave the government.
Controversial
Historian Von der Dunk has looked at the political background of the people who were polled. The supporters of the centre parties see little reason to change anything about the monarchy. The people who want change are precisely those who support the Freedom Party (mostly driven by dissatisfaction with politics), the liberal wing of the conservative VVD and, on the left, supporters of the Socialist Party.
"That shows precisely what the problem is in the eyes of many people. Two things that the Royal House supports have become more controversial amongst sections of the population: the multicultural society, and the role of Europe. You can look at it two ways: the Royal House holding on to what it believes in, or the Royal House has socially missed the boat a bit."
The future
The Dutch are no longer such strong supporters of the monarchy that has existed here for less than 200 years. What's remarkable is that even the traditional support of the monarchy, the so-called "Orange Union", distanced itself last year from Princess Máxima, when she said there's no such thing as a single 'Dutch identity'. Even her popularity is under pressure, now that she has expressed a social point of view.
Whether the position of the Head of State will really change in the future, is the big question. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander has said on numerous occasions that he only wants minor changes. The not-too-distant future will no doubt reveal what the Dutch really want when Willem-Alexander's mother decides its time to abdicate.
* RNW translation (as)
Tags: Dutch constitution, Dutch government, Dutch politics, Dutch Royal Family, Geert Wilders, Prince Willem-Alexander, Princess Maxima, Queen Beatrix