#political-fragmentation

#political-fragmentation

The last decade in British politics has been marked by instability and fragmentation, with six prime ministers in ten years, and Nigel Farage's Reform party now leading in the polls. A study this month from King's College London and Ipsos found that 84 percent of people now say the UK feels divided, up from 74 percent in 2020. Polling on voter intention shows a fracturing of the political landscape as people abandon two-party politics

This election is a direct result of this fragmentation and instability. The far-right Freedom Party (PVV) led by Geert Wilders dominated the last ruling coalition, but still pulled the plug in July, after less than a year. The various lessons that the Dutch media, political parties, and voters have drawn from this tumultuous experience should be relevant beyond the Netherlands, given that most European countries are struggling with a similar challenge: how to deal with the increasing electoral, ideological and political success.

Despite our earnest efforts to battle through German grammar, to enjoy woody white asparagus and to watchTatort (still hoping and waiting for a good episode), the feeling of belonging here in our adopted homeland remained elusive. We've been here for more than three decades combined, and as journalists our job is to get to know the country in many cases better than natives.