Lack of Confidence in Government: A Growing Concern in the Netherlands
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Loading... - Radimir Sokolov
- 03 Sep 2024
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Despite a slight revival around last year’s parliamentary elections and the announcement of the Schoof I Cabinet in June, Netherlands residents have had little confidence in their government since 2021. Dutch people believe the government achieves little. They feel unheard and that the government doesn’t stand up for people like them, the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP) concluded in a study published on Tuesday.
The SCP study found that 51% of Dutch citizens gave the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, a passing grade of 6 or higher, while only 49% gave the government a passing grade. A staggering 55% of Netherlands residents gave national politics a failing grade. The main reasons for this lack of confidence include the perception that the government achieves little, fails to listen to citizens, and does not stand up for people like them.
Dutch citizens expect the government to provide solutions to complex issues such as immigration, the high cost of living, the housing shortage, and the climate crisis. However, they feel that the government is not doing enough to address these concerns. A large majority of citizens believe that the government pays insufficient attention to the interests of various groups, including those with lower incomes, people living outside the Randstad, young people, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
The SCP advises politicians to engage more with citizens and connect with them on a personal level. By doing so, they can restore trust and demonstrate that they are listening to the concerns of ordinary people. The planning office also urges the Cabinet to be more transparent about their work and to show concrete results on the issues that matter most to citizens.
To regain the trust of citizens, politicians need to be more open about the dilemmas they face and the limits of what they can achieve. By making the democratic process more transparent, they can provide direction to the political and social debate. Ultimately, it is essential for politicians to demonstrate that they are committed to serving the interests of all citizens, not just a select few.
