Balkenende emerges on top in Dutch election
Jan Peter Balkenende, a professor of Christian philosophy who brought youthful energy to his disunited party, emerged today as the favourite to become the Netherlands’ next prime minister.
Balkenende’s Christian Democratic Alliance won a surprisingly wide lead in voting that ended last night, making it almost certain he would lead the effort to form a ruling coalition and head the next Cabinet.
Balkenende, 46, told cheering supporters he was ‘‘ready to take on the responsibility’’ of forming a coalition.
A Cabinet led by Balkenende would likely mean a shift to the right after eight years of progressive legislation that legalised euthanasia and gay marriages and took a tolerant view of the open sale of marijuana.
Balkenende would not move to repeal the earlier laws, said his spokesman, Hans van der Vlies.
‘‘Although a majority of our party opposed the euthanasia and gay marriage bills, Balkenende sees it as an irreversible fact,’’ he said.
But Balkenende wants to end the sale of marijuana in hundreds of so-called coffee shops, a practice that is technically illegal but not prosecuted.
Like other parties, the Christian Democrats have promised to tighten immigration policies and promote the integration of newcomers.
It has demanded that all immigrants demonstrate they know the national anthem by heart, and would require refugees to provide a large deposit to pay for an integration course before being allowed to bring a spouse into the Netherlands.
Party leader for just eight months, Balkenende stepped in after a prolonged power struggle between two other pretenders, becoming the first undisputed leader since former Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers left Dutch politics in 1994.
Balkenende’s exuberant, plain spoken manner was seen as a refreshing change from the staid professional politicians who ran the country by consensus in a three party centre-left coalition for the past eight years.
His public appeal has been heightened by the good nature with which he has taken jokes about his likeness to the JK Rowling’s film character Harry Potter, with his brushed-down hair and round glasses.
Yesterday, he was photographed holding a side-by-side photo of himself and young actor Daniel Radcliffe. The caption read, ‘‘Spot the difference’’.
Associates describe Balkenende as a religious family man, but a dedicated worker who habitually makes do with six hours sleep.
He married at the age of 40, and has a daughter. He is an avid skier and is a fan of Formula One racing.
