General Elderly Alliance
Encyclopedia
The General Elderly Alliance (in Dutch: Algemeen Ouderen Verbond, AOV) was a Dutch
pensioners' political party
. The AOV was very successful in the 1994 elections but disappeared four years later.
s. During the 1994 election campaign
one of the governing parties, the CDA
, announced that it would cut government pension
s. This made the AOV very attractive to the elderly. During the campaign the party organized several successful mass protests against budget cuts. The party won six seats. The Union 55+
, another party aiming to represent the elderly, also won one seat.
In the autumn of 1994 a conflict developed in the party between Nijpels and the party's founder Batenburg. This results in a split within the parliamentary party and the party board. After the split there was no party in parliament which was allowed to call itself AOV by the presidium. In the 1995 Senate election, the party won two seats, one of which was taken by Batenburg, who immediately became an independent. In 1998 the party's sole senator joined the CDA. In the elections of the same year
the AOV formed a new party, the Elderly Union (Ouderenunie), whilst Batenburg also participated in the election as the New Solidary Elderly Alliance. All were unable to win a seat.
, as well as the party's political leadership: the fractievoorzitter, is the chair of the parliamentary party and the lijsttrekker is the party's top candidate in the general election, these posts are normally taken by the party's leader.
* : Split from the party after 1995.
** : estimates of the number of members elected on combined AOV/Unie 55+
lists.
In the period 1995-1999 the party had its own parliamentary parties with one or two seats in provincial legislatures in Limburg
, Zeeland
, Utrecht
, Overijssel
, Friesland
and Groningen
. In the other six provinces it ran a joint list with Unie 55+
which won more seats. In Noord Brabant this party had 5 seats out of 79. In the period 1999-2003 the party had representatives in only four provinces all in combined AOV/Unie 55+ parties.
In Eindhoven the party was particularly successful - in the 1994 municipal elections the party, led by Jet Nijpels, won a considerable number of seats and participated in the local executive.
and Limburg
.
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
pensioners' political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. The AOV was very successful in the 1994 elections but disappeared four years later.
Party History
The AOV was founded on December 1, 1993. The direct cause for the formation of the AOV were budget cuts on retirement homeRetirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
s. During the 1994 election campaign
Dutch general election, 1994
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 3, 1994.-Results:...
one of the governing parties, the CDA
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
, announced that it would cut government pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
s. This made the AOV very attractive to the elderly. During the campaign the party organized several successful mass protests against budget cuts. The party won six seats. The Union 55+
Union 55+
Union 55+ was a Dutch pensioners' political party. The Union was somewhat successful in the 1994 elections but disappeared four years later.-Party History:...
, another party aiming to represent the elderly, also won one seat.
In the autumn of 1994 a conflict developed in the party between Nijpels and the party's founder Batenburg. This results in a split within the parliamentary party and the party board. After the split there was no party in parliament which was allowed to call itself AOV by the presidium. In the 1995 Senate election, the party won two seats, one of which was taken by Batenburg, who immediately became an independent. In 1998 the party's sole senator joined the CDA. In the elections of the same year
Dutch general election, 1998
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on 6 May 1998.-Result:...
the AOV formed a new party, the Elderly Union (Ouderenunie), whilst Batenburg also participated in the election as the New Solidary Elderly Alliance. All were unable to win a seat.
Ideology & Issues
The party was a typical one issue party: it sought to better the position of the elderly, by increasing government pensions.Representation
This table the AOV's results in elections to the House of Representatives, Senate and States-ProvincialStates-Provincial
The States'-Provincial is the provincial parliament and legislative assembly in each of the Provinces of the Netherlands. It is elected for each province simultaneously once every four years and has the responsibility for matters of sub-national or regional importance...
, as well as the party's political leadership: the fractievoorzitter, is the chair of the parliamentary party and the lijsttrekker is the party's top candidate in the general election, these posts are normally taken by the party's leader.
| Year | HoR | S | SP States-Provincial The States'-Provincial is the provincial parliament and legislative assembly in each of the Provinces of the Netherlands. It is elected for each province simultaneously once every four years and has the responsibility for matters of sub-national or regional importance... |
Lijsttrekker Lijsttrekker Lijsttrekker is a Dutch term for the top candidate of a party on a party list. He or she is almost always the party's political leader. After an election, this person usually leads the party's faction in the States-General, or serves in a senior position in the Cabinet if his party is part of... |
Fractievoorzitter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 Dutch general election, 1994 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 3, 1994.-Results:... |
6 | 0 | 0 | Jet Nijpels | Jet Nijpels |
| 1995 | 3+2+1* | 2 | 9+12** | no elections | Will Verkerk/Jet Nijpels |
| 1996 | 3+2+1* | 2 | 9+12** | no elections | Will Verkerk/Jet Nijpels |
| 1997 | 3+2+1* | 1+1* | 9+12** | no elections | Will Verkerk/Jet Nijpels |
| 1998 Dutch general election, 1998 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on 6 May 1998.-Result:... |
0 | 1* | 9+12** | did not participate | none |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 3** | no elections | none |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 3** | no elections | none |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 3** | no elections | none |
| 2002 Dutch general election, 2002 The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 15, 2002.... |
0 | 0 | 3** | did not participate | none |
Union 55+
Union 55+ was a Dutch pensioners' political party. The Union was somewhat successful in the 1994 elections but disappeared four years later.-Party History:...
lists.
Municipal and Provincial Government
In several provincial and local legislatures elderly parties, sometimes officially linked to the AOV, held seats.In the period 1995-1999 the party had its own parliamentary parties with one or two seats in provincial legislatures in Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
, Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
, Utrecht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
, Overijssel
Overijssel
Overijssel is a province of the Netherlands in the central eastern part of the country. The region has a NUTS classification of NL21. The province's name means "Lands across river IJssel". The capital city of Overijssel is Zwolle and the largest city is Enschede...
, Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
and Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
. In the other six provinces it ran a joint list with Unie 55+
Union 55+
Union 55+ was a Dutch pensioners' political party. The Union was somewhat successful in the 1994 elections but disappeared four years later.-Party History:...
which won more seats. In Noord Brabant this party had 5 seats out of 79. In the period 1999-2003 the party had representatives in only four provinces all in combined AOV/Unie 55+ parties.
In Eindhoven the party was particularly successful - in the 1994 municipal elections the party, led by Jet Nijpels, won a considerable number of seats and participated in the local executive.
Electorate
The party was supported by elderly, especially by former CDA-voters from the Southern provinces, North BrabantNorth Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
and Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
.