How does the world look at the Dutch elections? 

International news channels were very interested in the Dutch elections. All eyes were on Rob Jetten, who is expected to become the next prime minister.

Words:

• Sometone’s attitude is someone thinks, feels or behaves.
• A campaign slogan is a short sentence used by a political party to share its message.
• A centrist party is a political parties that is not left-wing or right-wing, but in the middle.
• When someone is tipped to become something, it means that most people expect this to happen.
• When someone served as a minister, it means they worked as a minister.
• When someone is stumbling, it means they are not confident and they might make mistakes.
• Where there is a shortage of something, it means there is not enough.
• To sow division means to cause conflict between people or to make people disagree.
  

Video:

Warming up

1. You’re about to watch a video about the results of the Dutch elections, but from a French news channel. Do you know how other countries reacted to the Dutch elections? Give examples if you have any.

2. This video focuses particularly on Rob Jetten. What do you know about him?

Questions about the video

Watch the video from 0:00-1:05.

3. Which of the following statements are true?

A: The main theme of Rob Jetten’s campaign with D66 was positivity.

B. Rob Jetten says in the interview that he wants the right and the left parties to govern together. 

C. Rob Jetten has already become the youngest prime minister ever. 

D. He was a climate minister in Mark Rutte’s government. 

4. Why did Rob Jetten have the nickname ‘Robot Jetten’?

Watch the video from 01:05 to the end.

5. Name at least one promise Rob Jetten made during the campaign.

6. Which of these sentences best summarises Rob Jetten’s response to Geert Wilders?

A: Most Dutch people see that the country needs skilled workers from abroad. They also want to offer safe support to refugees, while staying strict with anyone who misuses the system. We need positive action instead of anger to solve problems.

B: Most Dutch people want to be kept safe from attacks from abroad, so they understand that refugees also want to be safe. At the same time, it is not clear how many immigrants are refugees and how many immigrants are skilled workers. People want more research into the system.

7. What other record will Jetten break if he becomes prime minister?

Task

Option 1: If you had to run an election campaign, what would your slogan be? Explain how this slogan will convince people to vote for you. 

Option 2: Some countries have very large parties, where one party can rule by itself (for example, the Republicans and Democrats in the US, and the Labour Party and Conservatives in the UK). The Netherlands has a system where the government is always a coalition of multiple parties. Which benefits and downsides do you see in both situations, and would you have a preference?

Van de makers van All Right!, Of Course! en Taalblokken Engels