Netherlands: Great debating skills of PVDA leader Diederik Samson improves party standing and image

PVDA Leader Diederik Samson

In a poll released Tuesday by TNS NIPO, Labor would win about 26 seats in the 150-member parliament, continuing its steady rise of the past four weeks, which also is seen in other polls.

The Socialist Party, which had been leading the polls for nearly two months, continued to lose territory and now would secure only 28 seats, according to TNS NIPO. One month earlier, the Socialists were set to win 37 seats and had a 20-seat lead over Labor.

The polls are closely watched as the Netherlands is an important contributor to the rescue packages for struggling southern European countries. The outgoing center-right government has been an important ally of Germany in propagating austerity as the cure for the debt crisis in the currency bloc.

Socialist leader Roemer, whose down-to-earth manner was considered part of his appeal, so far has come across as a political lightweight in the debates.

"Everyone was expecting Rutte and Roemer to clash, but it was Samsom who stood out," said Philip van Praag, a political analyst at the University of Amsterdam.

It was Samsom who ticked off the prime minister, saying: "Mr Rutte, if you want to campaign, you have to tell the truth about your own program, not lies about other parties' programs".

In a country with such a crowded political field, another coalition is certain after the election. At least 12 parties are running, including those representing devout Christians, people over the age of 50 and the interests of animals.

However, only leaders of the biggest parties contested the debates, and Samsom took a different line when the discussion turned to the bailout for Greece, which is unpopular with Dutch voters.

The other leaders swore they would not pay another euro to support the Greeks. But Samsom took a softer line on a Greek government request that it be allowed more time to meet budget targets set by its international lenders.

"If we want to give Greece a chance, then it may be ... that they'll ask if they can have another half year, and if it leads to a stronger Europe, I'll say yes," Samson said in the debate. "We have to make Europe more than a market and a currency."

Labour leader Diederik Samsom was judged the winner of the second television debate of the election campaign by both viewers and experts on Thursday night.

Samsom took 40% of the viewers’ vote, followed by Mark Rutte, prime minister and leader of the right-wing VVD, with 23%.   Samsom was also declared the winner of the first debate last weekend.

A mother of 4 who was watching the debate said about Samson: "he would be the best Son in Law any mother could ask for." 

EU-Digest