2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands
{{short description|none}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands
| country = Netherlands
| type = parliamentary
| previous_election = 2014 European Parliament election in the Netherlands
| previous_year = 2014
| next_election = 2024 European Parliament election in the Netherlands
| next_year = 2024
| seats_for_election = 26 Netherlands seats in the European Parliament
| election_date = 23 May 2019
| turnout = 41.93%
| party1 = Labour Party (Netherlands)
| image1 = Frans Timmermans in 2019.jpg
| image1_size = 160x160px
| leader1 = Frans Timmermans
| alliance1 = S&D
| last_election1 = 9.40%, 3 seats
| popular_vote1 = 1,045,274
| percentage1 = 19.01%
| swing1 = {{increase}} 9.61
| seats1 = 6
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 3
| party2 = People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
| image2 = File:Malik Azmani, 2019.jpg
| image2_size = 160x160px
| leader2 = Malik Azmani
| alliance2 = RE
| last_election2 = 12.02%, 3 seats
| popular_vote2 = 805,100
| percentage2 = 14.64%
| swing2 = {{increase}} 2.62
| seats2 = 4
| seat_change2 = {{increase}} 1
| party3 = Christian Democratic Appeal
| image3 = File:Esther de Lange MEP 2.jpg
| image3_size = 160x160px
| leader3 = Esther de Lange
| alliance3 = EPP
| last_election3 = 15.18%, 5 seats
| popular_vote3 = 669,555
| percentage3 = 12.18%
| swing3 = {{decrease}} 3.00
| seats3 = 4
| seat_change3 = {{decrease}} 1
| party4 = Forum for Democracy
| image4 = Derk Jan Eppink 03.JPG
| image4_size = 160x160px
| leader4 = Derk Jan Eppink
| alliance4 = ECR
| last_election4 = New
| popular_vote4 = 602,507
| percentage4 = 10.96%
| swing4 = New
| seats4 = 3
| seat_change4 = New
| party5 = GroenLinks
| image5 = Eickhout, Bas-9750.jpg
| image5_size = 160x160px
| leader5 = Bas Eickhout
| alliance5 = Greens-EFA
| last_election5 = 6.98%, 2 seats
| popular_vote5 = 599,283
| percentage5 = 10.90%
| swing5 = {{increase}} 3.92
| seats5 = 3
| seat_change5 = {{increase}} 1
| party6 = Democrats 66
| image6 = Sophie in 't Veld, 2011.jpg
| image6_size = 160x160px
| leader6 = Sophie in 't Veld
| alliance6 = RE
| last_election6 = 15.48%, 4 seats
| popular_vote6 = 389,692
| percentage6 = 7.09%
| swing6 = {{decrease}} 8.39
| seats6 = 2
| seat_change6 = {{decrease}} 2
| party7 = Christian Union – Reformed Political Party
| image7 = Peter van Dalen.JPG
| image7_size = 160x160px
| leader7 = Peter van Dalen
| last_election7 = 7.67%, 2 seats
| popular_vote7 = 375,660
| percentage7 = 6.83%
| swing7 = {{decrease}} 0.84
| seats7 = 2
| seat_change7 = {{steady}}
| party8 = Party for the Animals
| image8 = AnjaHazekamp.jpg
| image8_size = 160x160px
| leader8 = Anja Hazekamp
| alliance8 = EUL/NGL
| last_election8 = 4.21%, 1 seats
| popular_vote8 = 220,938
| percentage8 = 4.02%
| swing8 = {{decrease}} 0.19
| seats8 = 1
| seat_change8 = {{steady}}
| party9 = 50PLUS
| image9 = Manders, Toine-2558.jpg
| image9_size = 160x160px
| leader9 = Toine Manders
| alliance9 = EPP
| last_election9 = 3.69%, 0 seats
| popular_vote9 = 215,199
| percentage9 = 3.91%
| swing9 = {{increase}} 0.22
| seats9 = 1
| seat_change9 = {{increase}} 1
}}
{{MEP lists Netherlands}}
An election of the Members of the European Parliament from the Netherlands was held on 23 May 2019. It was the ninth time such an election had been held in the Netherlands. The number of Dutch seats had been set to increase from 26 to 29 following Brexit, but due to the extension of the Article 50 process in the United Kingdom, the number of seats to be elected remained at 26.
Background
= Voting and election organisation =
== Election planning ==
| class="wikitable"
! Date !! Requirement | |
| 26 February 2019 | Last day for registering political parties names |
| 9 April 2019 | Candidate lists presented to the Electoral Council |
| 23 May 2019 | European Election in the Netherlands |
| 4 June 2019 | Official results released by the Electoral Council |
| 2 July 2019 | 9th European Parliament session begins (2019–2024) |
== Right to vote ==
In order to vote, a person must:
- have either the Dutch nationality or the nationality of a European Union member state,
- be 18 years or older, and
- not be otherwise disqualified from voting.
Additionally, nationals of other member states of the European Union must:
- be resident in the Netherlands on the day the candidates are nominated,
- not be disqualified from voting either in the Netherlands or in the Member State in which they are a national, and
- have registered in a municipality declaring that they want to vote in the Netherlands instead of in the home country (by filling out the Y-32 form).
Dutch nationals abroad, as well as in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have to register to vote for the elections to the European Parliament. When they register, they must say whether they will vote by post, by proxy, or in person at a polling station in the Netherlands.
Dutch nationals living in another EU member state must make a statement that they have not voted in the member state in which they reside, if they want to vote in the Netherlands.
Dutch residents on Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba have no need to register, because these islands are part of the Netherlands. They are able to vote in person at polling stations on the islands.
== Right to stand as a candidate ==
In order to stand in the European Parliament election, a candidate must:
- hold either Dutch nationality or the nationality of a Member State of the European Union,
- be at least 18 years of age on the day they would be sworn into the European Parliament, and
- have the right to vote.
Additionally, candidates from other member states of the European Union must:
- be resident in the Netherlands, and
- be able to stand as a candidate in the member state of which they are a national.
== Organisation of elections ==
{{further|Netherlands (European Parliament constituency)}}
In elections for the European Parliament, the national electoral districts play no role in the nomination. The Netherlands consists of a single electoral district. Political parties, therefore, take part in the elections with only a single candidate list.
However, the national electoral districts do play an important role in processing the election results. The principal polling station of each constituency determines the vote total of the constituency. The results of the vote are recorded in an official document and transferred to the Electoral Council. The Electoral Council, in its role as the central electoral committee, then determines the result of the Netherlands' distribution of seats.
== Casting a vote ==
A voter could cast their vote at a polling station of their choice within their own district. At the casting their vote, they could identify themselves with an identity document which is considered valid even if it has expired within the last five years.
== Participation of political groups ==
== Numbering of the candidates list ==
{{further|Party lists in the 2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands}}
The parties which had obtained one or more seats in 2014 at the last election to the European Parliament were given a number based on the number of votes they had received in the previous election. These totalled nine candidate lists. The party with the most votes got number 1 and the rest were listed accordingly. The list numbers for the remaining candidate lists were decided by a lottery.
{{#section-h:Party lists in the 2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|Numbering of the candidates list}}
== Common lists ==
Parties can form common lists, which means that two or more parties create a single list and stand in the elections as though they were one party. There are two for this election:
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Common list ! colspan="2" |Parties |
| rowspan="2" |Christian Union-SGP
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}"| |
| style="background:{{party color|Reformed Political Party}}"| |
| rowspan="2" |From the Region & Pirate Party
| style="background:{{party color|Pirate Party}}"| |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}}"|
|From the Region Party |
== Election day ==
{{further|Elections in the Netherlands#Timing}}
Traditionally, all elections are held on Wednesday in the Netherlands. However, the European Parliament elections run from Thursday to Sunday across the entire European Union so Thursday was chosen. This is because it is the only day that the Dutch Government believes is appropriate for an election day due to it not being a rest day for any religion. Sunday is not an option because it is a rest day for Christians, while it is the Sabbath on Friday and Saturday.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kiesraad.nl/verkiezingen/vraag-en-antwoord/waarom-stemmen-we-in-nederland-op-woensdag |title=Waarom stemmen we in Nederland op woensdag? |trans-title=Why in the Netherlands do we vote on a Wednesday?|date=2018-07-13|website=Kiesraad.nl|language=nl-NL|access-date=2019-05-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/verkiezingen/verkiezing-europees-parlement|title=Verkiezing Nederlandse leden van het Europees Parlement|publisher=Ministerie van Algemene Zaken (Ministry of General Affairs)|date=2019-04-15|website=www.rijksoverheid.nl|trans-title=Election of dutch Members of the European Parliament|language=nl-NL|access-date=2019-05-24|archive-date=2019-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524022643/https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/verkiezingen/verkiezing-europees-parlement|url-status=dead}}
Polls
= Exit Poll =
An exit poll carried out by Ipsos, as well as a forecast of the result produced by GeenPeil and Maurice de Hond based on a part of results collected, indicated that the Labour Party (PvdA) emerged with the most seats, followed by the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) with four seats each, Forum for Democracy (FvD) and GroenLinks (GL) with three seats and the Democrats 66 (D66) and the Christian Union – Reformed Political Party (CU-SGP) lists with two seats each, with all others on zero or one seat.{{cite news|title=GeenPeil: voor PVV en SP dreigt een vertrek uit Europees Parlement|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2286052-geenpeil-voor-pvv-en-sp-dreigt-een-vertrek-uit-europees-parlement.html|publisher=NOS|date=24 May 2019|access-date=24 May 2019}} The result marked the first time the Labour Party had won the most seats of the EU Parliament in the Netherlands since 1984, and the first time it has won the popular vote in a Dutch election since 1998.
= Poll =
== Seats ==
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;line-height:14px;" |
| style="height:40px;"
! style="width:85px;" rowspan="2"| Polling firm ! style="width:80px;" rowspan="2"| Date(s) ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| D66 ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| CDA ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| PVV ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| VVD ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| SP ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| PvdA ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| CU ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| GL ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| PvdD ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| 50+ ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| DENK ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| FVD ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| Volt ! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" rowspan="2"| Others ! style="width:30px;" rowspan="2"| Lead ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" |Ref |
| style="background:{{party color|Democrats 66}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Appeal}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|Party for Freedom}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Netherlands)}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|GroenLinks}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|Party for the Animals}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|50PLUS}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|DENK (political party)}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|Forum for Democracy (Netherlands)}};"| ! style="background:{{party color|Volt Europa}};"| |
|---|
| style="background:#E9E9E9"
| 23 May 2019 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | style="background:#F6C5C1;"| 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | style="background:{{party color|Labour Party (Netherlands)}};color:#FFFFFF;" data-sort-value="-2"| 2 | |
| Ipsos
| data-sort-value="2019-05-21"| 20–21 May 2019 | 2 | 3 | 2 | style="background:#D8DBE8;"| 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | style="background:#DBBDBD;"| 5 | – | 0 | data-sort-value="0"| Tie |
| Kantar Public
| data-sort-value="2019-05-21"| 18–21 May 2019 | 2 | 2 | 1 | style="background:#D8DBE8;"| 5 | 1 | style="background:#F6C5C1;"| 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | – | – | data-sort-value="0"| Tie |
| Peil.nl
| data-sort-value="2019-05-19"| 19 May 2019 | 2 | 4 | 1 | style="background:#D8DBE8;" data-sort-value="4.5"| 4–5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | style="background:#DBBDBD;" data-sort-value="4.5"| 4–5 | 0 | 0 | data-sort-value="0"| Tie | https://www.noties.nl/v/get.php?a=peil.nl&s=weekpoll&f=2019-05-19+epv.pdf |
| I&O Research
| data-sort-value="2019-05-14"| 9–14 May 2019 | 2 | 3 | 2 | style="background:#D8DBE8;"| 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | – | style="background:#DBBDBD;"| 4 | – | 0 | data-sort-value="0"| Tie | https://ioresearch.nl/Portals/0/I%26O%20Research%20TK%20en%20EP%20mei%202019%20v2.pdf |
| Ipsos
| data-sort-value="2019-05-13"| 12–13 May 2019 | 3 | 3 | 2 | style="background:#D8DBE8;"| 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | style="background:#DBBDBD;"| 5 | – | 0 | data-sort-value="0"| Tie |
| Ipsos
| data-sort-value="2019-04-29"| 26–29 Apr 2019 | 2 | 3 | 2 | style="background:#D8DBE8;"| 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | style="background:#DBBDBD;"| 5 | – | – | data-sort-value="0"| Tie |
| I&O Research
| data-sort-value="2019-04-24"| 19–24 Apr 2019 | 3 | 2 | 1 | style="background:#D8DBE8;"| 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | style="background:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}};color:#FFFFFF;" data-sort-value="-1"| 1 | https://ioresearch.nl/Portals/0/BWEBPR17_I%26O%20Research%20EU%20en%20EP%20april%202019_1.pdf |
| style="background:#E9E9E9"
| 22 May 2014 | 4 | style="background:#BADBD3;"| 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Appeal}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 | |
Results
{{further|Netherlands (European Parliament constituency)}}
Voter turnout was 41.93%, higher than in 2014 (37.32%), and higher than any European Parliament election in the past twenty years.{{cite news|title=Opkomst Europese verkiezingen fors hoger dan in 2014|url=https://www.ad.nl/politiek/opkomst-europese-verkiezingen-fors-hoger-dan-in-2014~a5e1a926/|publisher=ad.nl|date=26 May 2019|language=nl-NL7|access-date=1 July 2019}}{{cite news|title=EU-verkiezingen: opkomst hoogste in 20 jaar|url=https://nos.nl/liveblog/2286383-eu-verkiezingen-opkomst-hoogste-in-20-jaar.html|publisher=nos.nl|date=27 May 2019|language=nl-NL|access-date=1 July 2019}}{{cite news |title=Opkomst Europese verkiezingen fors hoger |url=https://www.dvhn.nl/buitenland/Opkomst-Europese-verkiezingen-fors-hoger-24494082.html |publisher=dvhn.nl |date=27 May 2019 |language=nl-NL |access-date=1 July 2019}}
{{Election results
|seattype1=Seats|seattype2=+/–|seattype3=Post-Brexit|seattype4=+/–
|party1=Labour Party|votes1=1045274|st1t1=6|st2t1=+3|st3t1=6|st4t1=0
|party2=People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|votes2=805100|st1t2=4|st2t2=+1|st3t2=5|st4t2=+1
|party3=Christian Democratic Appeal|votes3=669555|st1t3=4|st2t3=–1|st3t3=4|st4t3=0
|party4=Forum for Democracy|votes4=602507|st1t4=3|st2t4=New|st3t4=4|st4t4=+1
|party5=GroenLinks|votes5=599283|st1t5=3|st2t5=+1|st3t5=3|st4t5=0
|party6=Democrats 66|votes6=389692|st1t6=2|st2t6=–2|st3t6=2|st4t6=0
|party7=Christian Union – Reformed Political Party|votes7=375660|st1t7=2|st2t7=0|st3t7=2|st4t7=0
|party8=Party for the Animals|votes8=220938|st1t8=1|st2t8=0|st3t8=1|st4t8=0
|party9=50PLUS|votes9=215199|st1t9=1|st2t9=+1|st3t9=1|st4t9=0
|party10=Party for Freedom|votes10=194178|st1t10=0|st2t10=–4|st3t10=1|st4t10=+1
|party11=Socialist Party|votes11=185224|st1t11=0|st2t11=–2|st3t11=0|st4t11=0
|party12=Volt Netherlands|votes12=106004|st1t12=0|st2t12=New|st3t12=0|st4t12=0
|party13=DENK|votes13=60669|st1t13=0|st2t13=New|st3t13=0|st4t13=0
|party14=Of the Region & Pirate Party|votes14=10692|st1t14=0|st2t14=0|st3t14=0|st4t14=0
|party15=The Greens|votes15=9546|st1t15=0|st2t15=0|st3t15=0|st4t15=0
|party16=Jesus Lives|votes16=8292|st1t16=0|st2t16=0|st3t16=0|st4t16=0
|total_st2t=0|total_st4t=+3
|invalid=21963
|electorate=13164688
|source=Kiesraadhttps://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP20190523
}}
=European groups=
{{election table|title=Summary of the 23 May 2019 European Parliament elections in the Netherlands}}
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11" | {{succession links|left = 2014 | center = 2019 | right = 2024 }}
|-
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" colspan="3"|European group
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" |Seats 2014
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" |Seats 2019
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" |Change
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" |Seats
(after Brexit)
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" |Change
(after Brexit
|-
| {{party color cell|Renew Europe|2px}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Renew Europe
| style="text-align:left;" | RE
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
| style="text-align:right;" | 1 {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
| style="text-align:right;" | 1 {{increase}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats|2px}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
| style="text-align:left;" | S&D
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
| style="text-align:right;" | 3 {{increase}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
| style="text-align:right;" | 0 {{steady}}
|-
| {{party color cell|European People's Party|2px}}
| style="text-align:left;" | European People's Party
| style="text-align:left;" | EPP
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
| style="text-align:right;" | 1 {{increase}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 6
| style="text-align:right;" | 0 {{steady}}
|-
| {{party color cell|European Conservatives and Reformists|2px}}
| style="text-align:left;" | European Conservatives and Reformists
| style="text-align:left;" | ECR
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
| style="text-align:right;" | 2 {{increase}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
| style="text-align:right;" | 1 {{increase}}
|-
| {{party color cell|The Greens–European Free Alliance|2px}}
| style="text-align:left;" | The Greens–European Free Alliance
| style="text-align:left;" | Greens-EFA
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;" | 1 {{increase}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;" | 0 {{steady}}
|-
| {{party color cell|European United Left–Nordic Green Left|2px}}
| style="text-align:left;" | European United Left–Nordic Green Left
| style="text-align:left;" | EUL-NGL
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 2 {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 0 {{steady}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Europe of Nations and Freedom|2px}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Identity and Democracy
| style="text-align:left;" | ID
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 4 {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 1 {{increase}}
|-
|width="350" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9" colspan="3"|
|width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9"| 26
|width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9"| 26
|width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9"| 0 {{steady}}
|width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9"| 29
|width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9"| 3 {{increase}}
|}
=Elected members=
{{Main|List of members of the European Parliament for the Netherlands, 2019–2024}}
To be elected by preference votes, 10% of the electoral quota is needed. The electoral quota was 211,454. 10% of 211,454 = 21,145 votes.{{cite news|title=Kiesraad: Election results by election commission|url=https://www.kiesraad.nl/actueel/nieuws/2019/06/04/officiele-uitslag-europees-parlementsverkiezing-2019|publisher=Kiesraad|date=4 June 2019|language=nl-NL|access-date=10 June 2019}}
36 members were directly elected by preference votes. Not all candidates could be appointed because either the party did not get enough seats, or it got no seats.
Members not elected, but enough preference votes:
- D66 – Raoul Boucke, by 22,500 votes
- VVD – Bart Groothuis, by 21,353 votes
- Christian Union-SGP – Anja Haga, by 37,813 votes
- GreenLeft – Sabine Klok, by 26,949 votes
- GreenLeft – Eline van Nistelrooij, by 26,250 votes
- 50PLUS – Emmy van der Kleij, by 24,723 votes
- PVV – Geert Wilders, by 83,448 votes
- PVV – Marcel de Graaff, by 81,073 votes
- SP – Arnout Hoekstra, by 93,809 votes
- SP – Jannie Visscher, by 35,498 votes
- DENK – Ayhan Tonca, by 25,302 votes
- Volt Netherlands – Reinier van Lanschot, by 51,621 votes
- Volt Netherlands – Nilüfer Vogels, by 21,951 votes
References
{{reflist}}
{{European Parliament, (Netherlands)}}
{{European Parliament elections}}
{{Dutch elections}}