Frisian National Party

The Frisian National Party (West Frisian: Fryske Nasjonale Partij; Dutch: Friese Nationale Partij, FNP) is a Frisian nationalist political party in the Netherlands. The FNP is mostly involved in Frisian politics. The Independent Senate Group represents the FNP on a national level, the EFA represents the FNP on a European level.

Frisian National Party

Fryske Nasjonale Partij
Founded1962
IdeologyFrisian nationalism
Federalism[1]
Social democracy
Regionalism
European affiliationEuropean Free Alliance
International affiliationNone
Coloursblue, white, red
Senate
1 / 75
House of Representatives
0 / 150
States of Friesland
4 / 43
Website
http://www.fnp.frl/
  • Politics of Netherlands
  • Political parties
  • Elections

Party history

The party was founded in 1962 by young activists of the Frisian movement (West Frisian: Fryske Beweging), which developed in the 19th century.[2][3] It advocated the importance of the (West) Frisian language, culture and sports. The movement was founded in reaction to the use of Dutch in sermons of Dutch Reformed Churches in Friesland. The Frisian movement has links with the reformed Anti-Revolutionary Party, but in the 1962 provincial elections it claimed that Frisian interests were less important than Dutch national interests.

In 1966, it won its first seat in the provincial legislature and municipal councils. In 1995, it cooperated with provincial parties and the Greens to get a seat in the Senate, which is elected indirectly, in the so-called Independent Senate Group. Between 1995 and 2003, it was taken by a member of the Greens, since 2003 it is taken by a member of the FNP.

Ideology and issues

The FNP is a left-wing nationalist party, which advocates a federalist political system in which Frisians get more autonomy. It calls for greater autonomy of the region, government use, protection and recognition of the Frisian language and Frisian control over its gas reserves.[1]

Representation

Since 1995 the party cooperated with several provincial parties and the Greens in the Independent Senate Fraction which had one seat in the Senate. From 2003 till 2011 this seat is taken by Hendrik ten Hoeve, a member of the FNP.

The party has four (out of 43) seats in the Frisian provincial legislative and is part of the provincial government since 2011.

The party has 62 members in 20 of the 31 Frisian municipal councils. It cooperates in the local executive of Wymbritseradiel, Gaasterlân-Sleat, Skarsterlân 2x, Tytsjerksteradiel, Ferwerderadiel, Littenseradiel, Achtkarspelen, Leeuwarderadeel and Dongeradeel. In Wûnseradiel the party supplies the mayor.

On the European level, the party is a member of the European Free Alliance, although it has no seats in the European Parliament.

Electoral performance

The party's electorate is limited to Friesland, where it dominates in the Western and North-Eastern part of the mainland of the province. In the rural Littenseradiel the FNP got nearly 28% of the votes and became the largest party in 2003. In 2010 33.9% of the people voted FNP in the rural Skarsterlân.

States of Friesland
Year[4] VotesShare of votesSeats wonPositionOutcome
199117,3216.09%
3 / 55
5thOpposition
199921,3338.39%
4 / 55
5thOpposition
200336,87113.22%
7 / 55
3rdOpposition
200728,22510.68%
5 / 43
4thOpposition
201125,1168.45%
4 / 43
5thIn Government
201525,0279.46%
4 / 43
5thIn Government
201923,6627.93%
4 / 43
5thIn Government

Relationships with other parties

The party has good relations with other provincial parties like Party New Limburg with which it together forms the Independent Senate Group.[5] Historically it cooperated very well with the Political Party of Radicals, a left-wing Christian party.

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References
  1. FNP program 2011-2015 for the Provincial Elections, fnp.nl.
  2. Fryslân en de FNP - Skiednis en takomst, fnp.nl.
  3. Leeuwarder Courant: Frysk Nasionale Partij is op ’e nij út ein set, published on 6 November 1962
  4. "Verkiezingsuitslagen Provinciale Staten 1918 - heden". Kiesraad (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  5. Onafhankelijke Senaatsfractie (OSF), Parlement & Politiek.
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