Animal Welfare Party (Netherlands)

The party arose in 2002 , after the fall of the first Balkenende cabinet. The need to create a party was argued by the unfriendly to the animals, according to the founders, cabinet policy. The activities of more animal-friendly parties, such as the Green Left , were criticized for lowering the priority of issues related to the protection of animals.

Already at the time of its emergence, in 2002 , the party for the protection of animals was criticized as the party of one problem, concentrating all attention on issues of animal protection. In the party’s election program for the election to the Second House of the General States on January 22, 2003, it was stated that although the party focuses on animal issues, it also has a clear position on issues of economy, culture, health and well-being, transportation, education and the environment.

The party seeks not to lean towards either the left or the right side of the political spectrum, since it believes that animal protection problems are beyond the reach of traditional contradictions between left and right politics, religious and atheistic worldviews.

The Animal Welfare Party took part in the 2003 elections to the Second House of the General States in 18 of the 19 constituencies (in Overijssel province it was impossible to vote for the party because of an organizational error). The party received 47,665 votes - a little less than enough for one seat in parliament.

On November 30, 2003, it was decided at the party congress to participate in the European Parliament elections in June 2004 . The 3.2% recruited by the party in these elections, however, was again not enough. The party did not participate in the 2006 municipal elections, according to the leadership, because of the concentration of all efforts on preparing for the elections to the General States.

In the November 22, 2006 election, the Animal Welfare Party took two seats in the Second Chamber for the first time. Marianne Thimee received 150 307 and Esther Auvejand 4 370 votes. In these elections, the lists of candidates from the Party for Animals included a large number of so-called "list pushers" ( Dutch lijstduwer ) - well-known personalities who, in practice, do not want to be elected, but attract voters. Among them in these elections were: lawyer and philosopher Paul Clitor, television presenter Martin Gaus, biologist Marten 't Hart, comedian Kes van Koten, writer Rudy Kausbrook, actress Zhorzina Verban, writer Ian Walkers.

In the 2007 Provincial State elections, the Animal Protection Party won 8 seats — enough to get one seat in the First House (Senate) . The first senator from the party was Nico Coffeman.

In the Watershap election in November 2008, the party won 8 seats.

In 2009, the party again participated in the elections to the European Parliament . Natasha Urlemans headed the election list. In the next election of 2014, the party first went to the European Parliament, gaining 4.2% of the vote, and joined the European United Left / Left Green North group.

• Russian-language website of the party leader Marianne Thime
• Party official website