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Home , 50PLUS, Forum for Democracy, Jan Anthonie Bruijn, Party for Freedom, Reformed Political Party, Senate (Belgium)

THE DUTCH EERSTE KAMER DER STATEN-GENERAAL

Last updated on 21/04/2021 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/relnatparl [email protected] Photo credits: Dutch Senate

1. AT A GLANCE

The is the main constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since 1848 it has been governed as a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, organised as a unitary state. The Dutch "Staten-Generaal" is a bicameral body. It consists of two chambers, both of which are elected for four-year terms. The First Chamber, or Eerste Kamer, consists of 75 Members and is elected by the (directly elected) Members of the 12 Provincial Councils and 3 Electoral Colleges from the Caribbean part of the Netherlands.

The Senate's main duties are in the legislative field, but it also plays a role in scrutinizing the actions of the Government. The debate on the Government's budget also gives the Members of the Senate the opportunity to debate current and future policy with the government. Members of the House of Representatives are full-time politicians, whereas Members of the Senate are part-timers who often hold other positions as well. The Senate has a revising role in relation to draft legislation, however it does not have of amendment. Formally, the Senate can only reject or accept legislation.

On 26 October 2017 the third Cabinet of Prime Minister took office. Four political parties formed the governing coalition: People's and Democracy (VVD), Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Democrats 66 (D66) and Christian Union (CU). On 15 January 2021 the government resigned over the child benefits affair. The government will stay on in caretaker capacity until general elections scheduled for 17 March 2021.

2. COMPOSITION

Party EP affiliation % Seats Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD) 15% 12 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Christen Democratisch Appèl (CDA) 11% 9 Christian Democratic Appeal GroenLinks (GL) 11% 8 Green Left

Directorate-General for the Directorate for Relations with National Fractie Nanninga NA1 7

Democraten 66 (D66) 9% 7 Democrats 66

Partij van der Arbeid (PvdA) 9% 6 Labour Party

Partij Voor de Vrijheid (PVV) 7% 5 Party for Freedom

Socialistische Partij (SP) Non-affiliated 6% 4

ChristenUnie (CU) 5% 4 ChristianUnion

Forum voor Democratie 32 Non-affiliated 16% (12)

Partij voor de Dieren (PvdD) 4% 3

50PLUS Non-affiliated 3% 2

Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP) 3% 2 Reformed Fractie-Otten Non-attached Member NA3 2

Onafhankelijke SenaatsFractie Non-affiliated 1% 1 (OSF) Independent Senate Group 100% 75

The next elections will be held in 2023

3. OFFICEHOLDERS

Chairperson of the Speaker of the Dutch Senate Standing Committee on European Affairs

Prof.dr. (VVD/ALDE),since 2 July Ms Ria Oomen-Ruijten (CDA/EPP), 2019 since 18 June 2019

Clerk of the Dutch Senate Mr Remco Nehmelman, since 1 October 2018

1 Former Members of the Forum for Democracy (FvD) group 2 There are seven Members in the Fractie-Nanninga and two Members in the Fractie-Otten now. 3 Former Members of the Forum for Democracy Group.

2 DATE 21/04/2021

4. RELATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE

Participation rights for Dutch MEPs in plenary Partially (Upon invitation) sittings

Participation rights for Dutch MEPs in committee Partially (Upon invitation) meetings

Availability of videoconferencing system in the Yes Dutch Senate

5. INFORMATION LINKS

 Official website: http://www.eerstekamer.nl  Election, procedure and history of the Senate in English  List of committees in Dutch  Recent documents submitted by the Dutch Senate to the Interparliamentary EU Information Exchange (IPEX)  European Parliament Information Office in

6. CONTACTS

CONTACT- Factsheet author and contact in the CONTACT- -based contact of the Dutch EP Directorate for Relations with National Senate: Parliaments:

Mr Jesús Gómez Ms Ilse Van den Driessche Office MTY 07R004, 1047 Brussels Office Office MTY 04R006 Phone +32 2 28 32157 1047 Brussels [email protected] Tel. +32 2 28 32047 [email protected]

3 DATE 21/04/2021