Quote:
Originally Posted by Ignitionnet
Popular media seems to disagree with you that it hasn't been a nightmare. decisions taking an extremely long time to get anywhere due to infighting within coalition, and eventually PM resigning after coalition collapsing over support or otherwise for Dutch presence in Afghanistan.
I would call a coalition being too busy fighting amongst themselves to accomplish things and eventually causing government to collapse and force an election that may result in a strong far-right presence a nightmare.
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I don't necessarily view the collapse of a coalition as a nightmare. Yes, it will hinder efficiency, but the positive thing is that the voters get to have their say, and a new coalition with a new mandate comes in. Coalition collapses are also not that common (current PM Harry Potter (4 collapses in 4 terms) aside).
The fact that the upcoming elections may result in a strong far-right presence is neither here nor there. Elections were due at the end of the year anyway, and while the rise of the far right clearly has to do with what goes in politics, I don't think it's a result of the present coalition collapsing.
The reality is that in my living memory the system has worked well, and while it has polarised in recent years (as has the whole of Dutch society) I do think the consensus element of it works well. IMO slightly slower progress to a solution that many people find acceptable is to be preferred over the seesaw of British politics.