Party for the North
Encyclopedia
The Party for the North is a regional political party in the Netherlands
, representing the interests of the provinces
of Groningen
, Friesland
and Drenthe
. The PvhN seeks a separate parliament for these 3 northern provinces, and for 25% of the country's profits from natural gas
to go directly to them.
of Groningen, and (since 6 March 2006) one seat on the city council
of Delfzijl
. In the States-Provincial elections of 7 March 2007 the Party remained stable, getting 3.6% of the vote and being reduced from 2 to 1 seat in Groningen due to the reduction in the total number of seats in each States-Provincial. In Friesland
and Drenthe
, where the party fought for the first time in the 2007 elections, it won no seats that year.
In the Senate the Party for the North has allied with the Independent Senate Group (OSF). The OSF has won one seat in the Senate, by Henk ten Hoeve
at Stiens
.
. The party obtained 18,234 votes (0.4% of the vote overall, though this rose to 4-5% of the vote in some northern municipalities), not enough for a seat.
and Emmen). In Delfzijl the party won one seat.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, representing the interests of the provinces
Provinces of the Netherlands
A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities, having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The government of each province consists of three major parts: the Provinciale Staten which is the...
of 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...
, 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 Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
. The PvhN seeks a separate parliament for these 3 northern provinces, and for 25% of the country's profits from natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
to go directly to them.
Elections
Since 11 March 2003 the PvhN has had two seats on the 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...
of Groningen, and (since 6 March 2006) one seat on the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
of Delfzijl
Delfzijl
Delfzijl is a municipality and city in the northeast of the Netherlands. It is situated on the left bank of the river Ems estuary, which forms the border with Germany.-Population centres:...
. In the States-Provincial elections of 7 March 2007 the Party remained stable, getting 3.6% of the vote and being reduced from 2 to 1 seat in Groningen due to the reduction in the total number of seats in each States-Provincial. In 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 Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
, where the party fought for the first time in the 2007 elections, it won no seats that year.
In the Senate the Party for the North has allied with the Independent Senate Group (OSF). The OSF has won one seat in the Senate, by Henk ten Hoeve
Henk ten Hoeve
Hendrik ten Hoeve is a Dutch politician. Since 10 June 2003 he has led the Independent Senate Group in the Senate of the States-Generaal....
at Stiens
Stiens
Stiens is the largest town within the municipality of Leeuwarderadeel, with a population of about 7,800. The town hall of the municipality is located in Stiens....
.
European Parliament
In 2004 the party participated in the elections for the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. The party obtained 18,234 votes (0.4% of the vote overall, though this rose to 4-5% of the vote in some northern municipalities), not enough for a seat.
City councils
In the March 2006 city-council (Gemeenteraad) elections, the PvhN for the first time contested in three cities (Groningen, DelfzijlDelfzijl
Delfzijl is a municipality and city in the northeast of the Netherlands. It is situated on the left bank of the river Ems estuary, which forms the border with Germany.-Population centres:...
and Emmen). In Delfzijl the party won one seat.