Splinter (political party)

Splinter is a political party in the Netherlands. It was founded in December 2020 by Femke Merel van Kooten, who has led it since and served as its lijsttrekker in the 2021 general election. It has a progressive, secular and social liberal ideology.

Splinter
LeaderFemke Merel van Kooten
Founded21 December 2020 (2020-12-21)
Split fromParty for the Future
IdeologySocial liberalism
Secularism
Anti-identity politics[1]
Political positionCentre to centre-left
Colours  Purple
Senate
0 / 75
House of Representatives
0 / 150
European Parliament
0 / 29
Woerden municipal council
1 / 31
Website
splinterpolitiek.nl

History

The party was founded in December 2020 by Femke Merel van Kooten-Arissen, who had been an independent member of the House of Representatives since 16 July 2019. She was first elected for the Party for the Animals in the 2017 election.[2] The party participated in the 2021 election, but did not receive enough votes for a seat in the House of Representatives.[3]

The party's logo is a multi-colored phoenix, a mythical creature reborn from its own ashes over and over again. It is a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic from which the Netherlands will have to resurrect, but the phoenix also symbolizes the political career of Van Kooten-Arissen.[4]

In 2020, the party was offered a 250,000 Euro donation by a Russian citizen, Vadim Belikov, a co-founder of the Night Wolves movement. The party rejected it and notified Dutch security services.[5]

Structure and ideology

Splinter claims to be characterized by a "flat" party structure.[6] Via its member platform Fractiekamer, members are able to comment directly on the election program, and to submit motions and amendments.[7]

The party has a social liberal and secular ideology. It states that religious expressions and freedoms that restrict others in their expressions and freedoms must not be tolerated.[8]

References
  1. "De belangrijkste boodschap van Splinter: we zijn wel sociaal". chrisaalberts.com (in Dutch). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  2. "Tweede Kamerlid Femke Merel van Kooten begint eigen partij: Splinter". Algemeen Dagblad.
  3. "Bekijk hier de uitslagen van de verkiezingen". NOS (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  4. "Voormalig PvdD-Kamerlid Van Kooten komt nu met eigen partij: Splinter". de Volkskrant. 21 December 2020.
  5. "Beveiligingsdienst Tweede Kamer greep niet in bij Russische poging tot inmenging in politieke partij Splinter". EenVandaag (in Dutch). 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  6. "De partij". Splinter (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. "Fractiekamer". Fractiekamer.nl. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. "Liberale waarden". Splinter (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 January 2021.
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