Dutch Pro party European affiliation referendum

The Dutch political party Pro is preparing for a membership referendum to determine its European political affiliation. The vote, scheduled for September 18 to 25, will decide whether the party aligns with the Party of European Socialists (PES) or the European Greens.

An advisory committee, supported by party leader Jesse Klaver, has recommended joining the PES, arguing it provides greater influence in Brussels. Conversely, representatives from the European Greens are campaigning for membership, asserting that Pro is more ideologically aligned with the Greens on issues such as climate, the economy, and LGBT+ rights.

Internal discussions regarding this decision have been described as tense and emotional. Some members have expressed frustration over the timing of the decision, claiming they are being forced into a ‘pressure cooker’ environment following the merger of the PvdA and GroenLinks.

Following a congress in Tilburg, the party’s youth wing, PROTEST, has decided to join the youth branch of the European Green Party and become an ‘observing member’ of a global socialist youth organization. PROTEST chairperson Minke van Manen stated this allows the group to maintain connections on both sides of the political spectrum. This youth decision diverged from the advisory committee’s recommendation to join the PES.

The referendum process has also faced criticism regarding internal democracy. Observers have noted that information regarding the vote was primarily relevant to a small group of members, and that party leadership has maintained a policy of excluding journalists from member meetings and information sessions.