Provincial elections The Netherlands

[Hazir]

Today there were provincial elections in The Netherlands; the reason why these elections get serious attention at all in the country is that the provincial states elect the members of the senate. The powers of the senate are limited; there is no right for example of initiative or amendment. But, that doesn't mean the senate has no powers; it can send proposals for legislation back to the Second Chamber, which then (unlike in the UK) can not simply overrule the senatorial veto.

The government already had a minority in the Second Chamber, and counts as a minority government. Tonight it seems that the Provincial elections are going to lead to the government also having a minority in the senate. The last few years we've really seen interesting new things in this country. I mean, provincial elections being treated as if they are national elections. Who would have thought it possible.

[Flixy]

Made for weird debates, I mean, why were the opposition Second Chamber fraction leaders at debates but the coalition's First Chamber fraction leaders? I imagine this could be confusing.

One interesting side effect of this provincial election becoming 'national': I only looked at the results briefly and the OS went to zero seats (estimated), so that basically means provincial parties lost. Not surprising if all the attention goes to the national parties..