New leader likely to be 'dull' former academic
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Weeks of painstaking negotiations will probably be needed to choose the new prime minister of the Netherlands. But the man expected to land the job is a strait-laced 45-year-old former academic who bears a striking resemblence to Harry Potter.
When the results of yesterday's election become clear Queen Beatrix will appoint someone to help construct the next government – inevitably a coalition. Her first call is likely to be to Jan Peter Balkenende, who rescued the centre-right Christian Democrats from their leadership crisis and nursed them back to political health.
A former economics professor, Mr Balkenende could hardly be mistaken for Pim Fortuyn, the murdered anti-immigration campaigner.
When he took over the leadership of the party last November, Mr Balkenende was described as "dull but 200 per cent reliable". Some of his public statements sound a little like those of the former British prime minister John Major.
Mr Balkenende never ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition with Mr Fortuyn, but would not endorse his more controversial ideas and condemned the social democrat-led government's "I'm sorry" democracy.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments