centre democrats netherlands centre democrats dutch political party netherlands founded members split centre democrats joined month later member parliament went leader party subsequently strongly centered person newly formed centre democrats represented moderate faction espoused anti immigration nationalist ideology claims standing centre political landscape disputed political scientists centre democrats gain votes parliamentary representation general election won seat following election joined additional representatives won party subject parties parliament parties sought confront following success failed win seats election fell disarray finally dissolved history early years centre democrats founded november low key members broke away december year member parliament changed party centre democrats seventh member believed steering moderate course attract voters polls expelled party attempt appear mainstream new moderate explicit opposed people centre democrats manifesto dutch east west home best joined centre democrats party known party despite widespread media coverage generated reputation party membership remained small years early years centre democrats received extensive media attention occasions occurred centre democrats met march group anti fascist activists believed parties planning merge hotel meeting held venue severely damaged narrowly escaped death party secretary leg jumping window escape attempt reinstated teacher old school following failed election parliament led second media legally permitted job protests students parents reputation racist led bought court pursuing return old job unable job returned politics taking advantage profile centre democrats contested general election gained vote parliamentary seat centre democrats failed attempt win votes gained vote win seat parliament following election centre democrats worked improving image support strategy paid winning seat house_of_representatives general election election nineteen party won right state sponsored television radio time registered members local elections centre democrats won seats provincial elections seats provincial parliament electoral success overtook party began controversial statements media based conviction high office restricted generation dutch nationals suggested cabinet ministers including justice minister jewish descent secretary hungarian descent removed dutch leadership marked start party members charges racism decision parties parliament government place party turned centre democrats winning seats local elections gaining representation city fielded candidate large cities strongholds party winning vote fifth largest dutch political party elections scandal centre democrats largely weak organization lack active party members previously won local seats vacant elected representatives failed joined founded parties left party left politics altogether general election opinion polls predicted party win seats house_of_representatives media reports claiming newly elected local members damaged centre democrats prospects secret recording broadcast national television week election showed amsterdam council member having set immigrant centers fire early 1980s election followed centre democrats won vote seats house_of_representatives joined earlier expectations claimed relatively poor result result anti campaign media growth questions arising parties development society political opponents began confront centre democrats directly maintain strict despite attempts appeal issue foreigners remained central party rhetoric convicted racial hatred dutch courts speaking conviction later came seen mainstream observers marry dominated party son head party office centre democrats family affair remained skeptical initiatives outside control expelled multiple local council members party local cooperation unauthorized centre democrats leadership radical later agreed coordinate joint demonstrations cooperation soon fell apart distanced election approached provincial elections face competition new competitors won seat centre democrats increase seat presence provincial parliament local elections centre democrats lost seats having contested election half municipalities contested general election months later party lost seats parliament result centre democrats failure benefit increased attention immigration issues years internal new legislation directed mainly far right raised number signatures district required order contest elections demise election increasingly worried legal pressure believing centre democrats government target officially banned founded conservative democrats potential successor party event centre democrats new party contested european elections supposed party cooperation names reality represented party won vote election showing widely seen dying party increasing physical exhaustion served situation nonetheless new political climate following september attacks rise sought political rehabilitation final years reason earlier criminal convictions arose stating things accepted april months died party formally dissolved result participate general election recently emerged list attracted votes based appeal similar centre democrats ideology split ideology centre democrats broadly similar increasingly radical following years centre democrats publish party electoral manifesto policies known primarily small scale distribution pamphlets exact copies old pamphlets like centre democrats claimed centre political spectrum representing centre democratic ideology party focused mainly issue immigration mainstream observers considered party ideology populist form nationalism immigration centre democrats strongly opposed immigration exclude people based ethnicity spoke initially dutch population dutch ethnic community party remained distinct ethnic nationalists gave immigrants choice party program stated foreigners minorities adjust dutch ways customs leave country centre democrats considered dutch culture threat foreigners muslims particular come netherlands intention taking dominating country opposed marriages wanting limit possibility world generally sought return old dutch society singular dutch culture according political scientist party ideology best described civic nationalism party moved ethnic nationalism asserting program began unity solidarity dutch ethnic community based common history culture originated history foreign policy centre democrats opposed limitation sovereignty dutch state skeptical european_union european integration seeing international defeats inflicted dutch government generally described international organizations united_nations inefficient supported nato means keeping west safe communism program centre democrats included flanders dutch speaking territories promoting idea society party originally place heavy emphasis ethical issues family cornerstone society conservative stressing law order traditional morals values years sought divorce difficult particularly families children party lent space discussing aids virus context moral crisis moral considered returning traditional morality economic party economic policies substantially generally supported mixed economy netherlands demands strong ideological supporting generous welfare state dutch people state economy notably high taxes hinder private initiative subsidies organisation original scientific bureau think tank centre democrats foundation scientific changed thomas thomas foundation favorite political philosopher youth organization centre democrats having originally founded youth wing early 1980s later succeeded youth based exclusively area centre democrats attract establish particularly active youth organization far right youth tended join time centre democrats published variety party papers varying quality original newspapers published intended general party news aimed intellectual readership differ content succeeded distributed time succeeded later years published frequently international relations regarded related european patriotic parties official contact limited party regularly attended annual meetings national spoke good contacts party leader relations created conflict interest given arguably better contacts centre democrats main rival netherlands centre democrats maintained official contacts domestically successor election results house_of_representatives
Centre Democrats (Netherlands)