Middle Class Party
Encyclopedia
The Middenstandspartij was a Dutch
political party
representing middle class
interests. It played only a marginal role in Dutch politics.
were the first election in the Netherlands which used a system of proportional representation
. With about 12500 votes (1% of the votes) the MP won one seat, as did several other one or two person parties. After the elections the election law became more restrictive. Between 1918 and 1921 the MP cooperated in the neutral parliamentary party, with four other one or two seat parties, namely the Peasants' League
, the Economic League
, the Neutral Party
and the Alliance for Democratization of the Army. The parliamentary party was led by former minister Willem Treub
. In 1921 several of these parties, including the Middle Class Party merged into the Liberal State Party
, together with two larger liberal parties.
The Middle Class Party continued as an independent part of this new party, with a separate list for the elections (some times combined with the Neutral Party). In 1929
this special position was abolished and Staalman left the Liberal State Party to found the Middle Party for City and Country, which won one seat in the 1929 elections. In 1971 the New Middle Party
entered in the elections, which saw itself as a continuation of the Middle Class Party.
s and equal pension-rights for businessmen and workers.
, where Abraham Staal was a well known figure. The party also had a seat in the city's municipal council.
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...
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...
representing middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
interests. It played only a marginal role in Dutch politics.
Party History
The MP was founded by Abraham Staalman a businessman from Amsterdam. The 1918 electionsDutch general election, 1918
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 3, 1918. It was the first election in which universal male suffrage was applied, and the first in which a system of proportional representation was used...
were the first election in the Netherlands which used a system of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. With about 12500 votes (1% of the votes) the MP won one seat, as did several other one or two person parties. After the elections the election law became more restrictive. Between 1918 and 1921 the MP cooperated in the neutral parliamentary party, with four other one or two seat parties, namely the Peasants' League
Peasants' League
The Peasants' League was a Dutch agrarian political party. The League played only a minor role in Dutch politics.-Party History:...
, the Economic League
Economic League (Netherlands)
The Economic League was a Dutch liberal political party. It played only a marginal role in Dutch politics.-Party History:...
, the Neutral Party
Neutral Party
The Neutral Party was a Dutch political party representing artists' interests. It played only a marginal role in Dutch politics.-History:...
and the Alliance for Democratization of the Army. The parliamentary party was led by former minister Willem Treub
Willem Treub
Marie Willem Frederik Treub was a Dutch politician.-References:* in the Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland...
. In 1921 several of these parties, including the Middle Class Party merged into the Liberal State Party
Liberal State Party
The Liberal State Party, "the Freedom League" , was a Dutch conservative liberal political party from 1921 to 1948...
, together with two larger liberal parties.
The Middle Class Party continued as an independent part of this new party, with a separate list for the elections (some times combined with the Neutral Party). In 1929
Dutch general election, 1929
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 3, 1929.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party * Agrarians' League...
this special position was abolished and Staalman left the Liberal State Party to found the Middle Party for City and Country, which won one seat in the 1929 elections. In 1971 the New Middle Party
New Middle Party
The New Middle Party is a Dutch small business-interest political party. The NMP is a marginal party and was only successful during the 1971 elections.-History:...
entered in the elections, which saw itself as a continuation of the Middle Class Party.
Ideology & Issues
The MP was a typical special interest party. Its main goal was to represent the interests of the middle class, those "stuck between the proletariat and capital". It advocated progressive taxation, reduced government interference and bureaucracy, recognition of employers' organizationEmployers' organization
An employers' organization, employers' association or employers' federation is an association of employers. A trade union, which organizes employees is the opposite of an employers' organization...
s and equal pension-rights for businessmen and workers.
Leadership & Support
This table show the MP's results in elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, 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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 Dutch general election, 1918 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 3, 1918. It was the first election in which universal male suffrage was applied, and the first in which a system of proportional representation was used... |
1 | 0 | Abraham Staalman | Abraham Staalman |
| 1919 | 1 | 0 | no elections | Abraham Staalman |
| 1920 | 1 | 0 | no elections | Abraham Staalman |
Electorate
The party drew most of its support from AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, where Abraham Staal was a well known figure. The party also had a seat in the city's municipal council.