In the recent Dutch elections, Rob Jetten, the leader of the D66 party, spearheaded a campaign characterized by positivity and an optimistic vision for the future. This outsider, fresh vision truly connected with voters and spurred a wave election that resulted in the emergence of a powerful new Democratic minority. Jetten borrowed the campaign slogan “het kan wél,” Dutch for Barack Obama’s famous “yes, we can.” This clarion call gave wings to their hope and fueled their quest for change.
D66’s approach was to emphasize collaboration over combativeness. First, the aggrieved party made a calculated decision to avoid conflicts with similarly situated parties. This tactic allowed them to collectively play the part of the “bad cop.” Rather than focus on dragging climate policy further left, Jetten focused on pushing back against the climate skeptic Geert Wilders, leader of far-right PVV party, during parliamentary debates. This simple tactical maneuver shone the light in starkly clear terms on what the two parties stand for. In so doing, it increased D66’s attractiveness to a heterogeneous electorate.
A Shift in Voter Demographics
The result of the early election was surely a surprise even to D66, which as the plan showed an incredible demographic shift among voters. Nearly a fifth of their support came through the centre-left GreenLeft/Labour alliance (GL/PvdA). This shows the building national coalition of progressive voters who are tuning in to D66’s vision. In other words, 13% of D66 voters came from the centre-right NSC and 11% from the right-wing VVD party.
Remarkably, 1 in 11 of D66’s voters were non-voters in the last election. That indicates Jetten’s hopeful message was able to excite and engage people that had tended to sit out elections in the past. Plus, 7% of D66 voters used to vote for the far-right PVV. This rouses the party’s innate talent for attracting disenchanted electors from rival political philosophies.
Jetten’s ability to confront Wilders directly during debates added a layer of clarity to D66’s policies. He focused on dissecting the details of PVV’s proposals, emphasizing his party’s commitment to progressive, inclusive governance.
“You defend the Netherlands while I defend the EU, the UN or international law.” – The Guardian
Progressive Patriotism and Taxation Policies
D66’s campaign included a strong proposal for a millionaires’ tax. This suggestion found favor with a large majority of voters from almost all parties in the Netherlands. The vast majority of citizens said they wanted to pay less in taxes on labor and more on capital gains. This bold progressive taxation move appealed to all those who demand a more equitable economic system that puts people before profit.
Jetten’s campaign adopted this notion of progressive patriotism. It appealed to voters who were looking for a positive and confident national identity as well as an opening to the more cooperative, vibrant, connected world our future lies in. D66 framed itself as a modern party through adopting this dual focus. It honors our national values and prioritizes promoting international cooperation.
“We defend the Netherlands on our terms.” – The Guardian
Election Success and Future Prospects
D66’s work paid off big time electorally, as their party achieved one of the largest electoral victories in Dutch political history, nearly tripling the party’s seat count in parliament. This dramatic increase reflects not only the effectiveness of Jetten’s campaign but signifies a shift in Dutch politics towards more inclusive and optimistic governance.
The findings paint a picture of an ever-evolving political landscape where cross-party and across-the-aisle collaboration is the new norm. And mostly they are just looking for something better—that speaks to their values and their hopes and their ambitions. As Jetten stated during his campaign, “Yes in my back yard,” emphasizing a vision that promotes local empowerment while embracing broader societal goals.