Pro party members to vote on European political affiliation

Members of the Dutch political party Pro are approaching a referendum to decide which European political family to join. The vote, scheduled to run from September 18 to 25, will determine whether the party aligns with the European Greens or the Party of European Socialists (PES).

A committee composed of party figures Nel van Dijk and Mariëtte Hamer has recommended that Pro join the social democrats, arguing that the PES offers the party greater influence on the European stage. This recommendation is supported by party leader Jesse Klaver and other top officials.

In response, representatives from the European Greens, including co-chair Terry Reintke, are campaigning to convince members to choose the Green family. Reintke and other Green representatives argue that Pro is substantively closer to the Greens on key issues such as climate, economy, and LGBT+ rights. They have noted that while the social democrats offer more power, the Greens maintain a closer ideological alignment with Pro's core values.