March election madness has begun! This week's episode takes a look at the upcoming Dutch General Election where Prime Minister Mark Rutte is hoping to lead his VVD party to a fourth straight election win. It also includes a preview of next week's Western Australia State Election and the upcoming elections in Baden Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, where the race to succeed Angela Merkel continues to roll on.
Mark Rutte is potentially on the verge of becoming the Netherlands' longest-serving Prime Minister, his party is poised to win yet another election, and he is likely about to enter into another protracted set of coalition negotiations. With just over a week to go until polling day, Sam and Chern take a look at the state of play, what is at stake, and how the campaign has played out amidst the pandemic. The episode also takes a broader look at some longer-term themes in Dutch politics, including the fall of the PvdA (Labor Party) and extensive fragmentation. How was Mark Rutte managed to survive for such a long time, having experienced multiple scandals and setbacks? What caused the rapid decline of the centre-left? Is the electoral system an asset or curse when it comes to the formation of a stable government?
