With as many as four in 10 of the Netherlands’ 13 million eligible voters undecided a day before voting, and just 5 percentage points separating the top four parties, turnout could be crucial.
Category: Europe
High turnout in Dutch elections
The Hague. Voter turnout in Wednesday’s Dutch parliamentary election was far higher than five years ago according to pollster Ipsos, which is conducting an exit poll. At 1245 GMT, when polls had been open for just over six hours, turnout was estimated at 33 percent, compared to 27 percent at the last election in 2012,…
General elections – Dutch vote
Reportedly Dutch votes went to ballot-boxes in unprecedented numbers. 13 million voters began casting ballots at polling stations across the country that will close at 2000 GMT. The vote is considered to be decisive for the future of the country, and its membership in the EU. The convincing victory of Party for Freedom led by…
End March – invocation of Article 50
According to the UK media reports, the end of March (27-30) – last four days of the parliament, Prime Minister Therea May will make an announcement. A spokesman has stressed she planned to send the trigger letter at “the end” of the month. The European Council President Donald Tusk promised to react within 48 hours after…
ECJ ruling against headscarf
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg decided in favor of a Belgian firm which had a rule barring employees who dealt with customers from wearing visible religious and political symbols may not have discriminated against a receptionist dismissed for wearing a headscarf. From now onwards the compainies in the EU got a green…
Operation Portu aganist firearms trafficking
The Spanish National Police has exposed the arsenal of war seized in January in Spain during operation Portu, supported by Europol. Over 10 000 assault rifles, anti-aerial machine guns, 400 shells and grenades, as well as pistols, revolvers and parts to reactivate weapons, have been catalogued. Huge firearms depot seized during operation Portu with Spanish…
Sturgeon to banalise independence
Anna van Densky, OPNION Banalising independence referendum Scottish First minister Nicola Sturgeon has become a ‘false friend’ of the European Union, opening wide Pandora box of the disputed claims of national political elites in EU members eager to arrange the states of their own. The referendum, that was organized as a unique opportunity after 400 years…
Queen Elizabeth to sign for Brexit
The symbolic approval from Queen Elizabeth is expected today, after both houses backed the so-called Brexit bill after the prime minister May has secured the right to begin the process of the UK departure from the European Union, triggering Article 50 in Brussels. “We are now on the threshold of the most important negotiation for…
Déjà vu: Scotland for independence
The Scottish government suggests Europeans will understand it has a “special” case to be given EU membership as soon as possible if Scots vote for independence before Britain quits the bloc, Michael Russel said. Speaking in Brussels after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced her plans for the second independence referendum before Brexit in 2019,…
Rutte admits Wilders can win
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said there is a real possibility that anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders will win the parliamentary election on Wednesday. Erdogan repeats we are nazis + fascists. He insults Dutch police. No de-escalation. Expel Turkish Ambassador to NL and entire staff! — Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) March 13, 2017 “There is a real…
EUROPE DIPLOMATIC 