MPs: Media widens gulf with citizens

Two-thirds of Dutch MPs acknowledge that there is a gulf between the electorate and themselves. Nonetheless, a large majority is satisfied with the functioning of democracy and parliament in the Netherlands. They blame the gulf mainly on the media, according to the Parliamentary Survey 2006 carried out by political science professors Rudy Andeweg and Jacques Thomassen.

Eighty-one percent of Lower House members said they were fairly or very satisfied with the functioning of democracy and parliament in the Netherlands. They did consider that the Lower House’s independence vis-a-vis the government is limited. Around 43 percent believe parliament should determine the main lines of policy, but only 16 percent consider this is the case in practice. Less rigid coalition accords would be good for parliamentary democracy, according to 79 percent.

Some MPs see the gulf between politicians and citizens as unavoidable, because MPs must put the general interest above individual interests. Others see it as the result of the attitudes of the electorate, including disinterest and a distaste for politics. And finally, there are MPs who believe it is due to the politicians themselves.

Questioned about possible reasons for the gulf, 84 percent named the way in which journalists report on politics as a fairly or very important reason. Additionally, politicians make too many promises they cannot keep (73 percent) and the differences between political parties have become less clear in the eyes of the electorate (71 percent).

The introduction of binding corrective referenda, whereby citizens could reverse parliamentary decisions, is increasingly referred to as a means of reducing the distance between politicians and citizens. But among MPs, only 27 percent favour their introduction.

Some 65 percent of MPs are against referenda on future EU treaties. No less than 77 percent believe the Dutch parliament exercises too little control over the position of Dutch ministers in the EU. The coordinating role of the premier in European affairs should be strengthened, according to 59 percent of MPs.

Written and verbal questions are not very effective, in the view of some 60 percent. They do consider interpellation debates effective (82 percent), as well as motions (84 percent). For the future, MPs see a lot to be said for theme committees (62 percent) and being able to interrogate civil servants (72 percent), two ideas recently suggested by the National Convention, a think-tank with citizens on it.

MPs consider of themselves that they react too much to incidents and reports in the newspapers. They also believe they spend too much time on details. The media in its turn spends too much time on the political game and the little players, and too little on the content.

The research was initiated by the Council for Public Administration (ROB), which was critical of the functioning of the Lower House last year in its recommendations “On the state of democracy.” Among the 150 MPs, 114 (76 percent) participated in the survey. Comparable surveys were carried out in 1968, 1972, 1979, 1990 and 2001. The full report will be available in February.

Source: NIS News, ANP, 21 November 2006