How safe are Dutch institutions from autocratic leadership?
In the media image: Tingey Injury on Unsplash
In the United States, President Trump is rapidly dismantling various institutions that uphold the democratic rule of law. In NRC newspaper, Wim Voermans, Professor of Constitutional Law, argues there is less chance of that occurring here.
Referring to our multi-party system, ‘polder model’ and the fact that the judiciary in the Netherlands is less susceptible to political influence, Voermans does not believe that a Trump-like attack on Dutch institutions could have so much impact. However, the professor warns that Dutch citizens and politicians should remain vigilant at all times: 'Many Americans thought that what’s happening there now was impossible.'
Voermans explains that in the Netherlands the separation of powers (Trias Politica) is much less strict than in the US. We have a system of distribution of powers under which government powers (legislative, executive and judicial) have to work together. This system of checks and balances means that these institutions are constantly monitoring and correcting each other.
The Netherlands is also a country of minorities where there will always be many political movements and factions. Here, one political party will therefore not easily succeed in securing a majority in parliament. ‘So, you’ll always have to look for a reasonable solution with broad support.’ It has become clear over the past year that a range of far-reaching ideas, movements and proposals were reined in by the buffer of our 'minority-protecting polder and consultation culture. From that perspective, this – unfairly – much-criticized political fragmentation turns out to be nothing less than a blessing', says Voermans.