only 51 percent of the Netherlands supports monarchy
NOS News•
Where in the spring 58 percent of the Dutch thought that the Netherlands should remain a monarchy, this is now – in the autumn – 51 percent. This was revealed yesterday from a poll by research agency Ipsos commissioned by the pro-republican association Republic, formerly called the Republican Society.
Also in the King’s Day poll that Ipsos is drawn up on an assignment from the NOS, it already appeared that support for the monarchy is under pressure. At the time, 58 percent of the Dutch supported the monarchy for the second year in a row. In 2020, almost three quarters of the Dutch still supported the monarchy.
Ipsos has now added new representatives on behalf of Republic to the latest political Barometer of the research bureau, this time added in the days after Budget Day. From the results it can be concluded again that especially people over the age of 55 are in favor of maintaining the monarchy. 62 percent of that group said so this time. In the age group between 18 and 54, this is 43 percent.
47 percent for succession
An explanation for the differences between the two polls cannot be concluded from the results of the survey. The Republic Association believes that this is partly due to the increase in the benefit paid to the king and his family, which was announced shortly before Prinsjesdag.
Furthermore, it appears that the pre-destination of succession, whereby the eldest child of the monarch automatically becomes heir to the throne, is 47 percent in the autumn. Around King’s Day that was 51 percent.
Confidence in Willem-Alexander, satisfaction with his performance, and questions are always being asked, are not included in this survey.
Support for Republic about equal
Support for a republic in the Netherlands has been around 25 percent for several years now. This year it is also 26 percent, ten compared to 24 percent in April. Republic thinks that few people can imagine what the country would look like without a king.
When asked what kind of head of state the Netherlands should have if the Netherlands were a republic, 32 percent said they had no opinion. 30 percent want a ceremonial presidency like in Germany, for example. Being a smaller group without president of a republic with political power (17 percent), such as in the US.