2012 Elections

Elections for the House of Representatives are scheduled for 12 September 2012. But what happens in the months to come? Is it business as usual for the House? How is the list of controversial subjects drawn up?

Controversial subjects

In the coming months, the House of Representatives continues to function as usual. However, due to the "demissionary" status of the Cabinet, not all subjects are dealt with. The House has drawn up a list of so-called controversial subjects. The debate about the issues on that list is postponed until a new Cabinet has taken office, or until the House decides to withdraw the subject from the list. New items can be added to the list, too, so over the coming weeks the list may change.

Selection

How is the list of controversial subjects drawn up? Over the past weeks, each standing committee of the House made a list of subjects under scrutiny. In a procedural meeting, each committee decided by majority vote on the subjects to be declared controversial. Political groups also had the opportunity to make suggestions for subjects to be added to the list.

Final list

On Tuesday 5 June the proposals from the standing committees of the House and the political groups were put to a vote in the plenary sitting. Subsequently, the list of controversial subjects was published as an official document of the House. The list can be amended afterwards at the proposal of a standing committee or one or more political groups. Incoming amendments will be put to a vote in a plenary sitting, followed by publication of a new list of controversial subjects.

Important dates

The run-up to the 2012 elections: the election calendar at a glance.

• Until Monday 18 June new political parties can have their name registered with the Electoral Council.
• On Tuesday 31 July political parties must have conveyed their canditate lists.
• Voters who live abroad, have the opportunity to register until 1 August.
• The elections for the House of Representatives are held on Wednesday 12 September.
• In a public sitting on Monday 17 September, the Electoral Council officially determines the overall result of the election.
• On Wednesday 19 September the House of Representatives in its old composition will be dissolved. In the next sitting on Thursday 20 September, the House will gather in its new composition.

The Electoral Council

The Electoral Council is an advisory body to Government and Parliament on franchise and elections. The Electoral Council also serves as the Central Electoral Office for the elections of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the European Parliament. This means that the Electoral Council officially determines and presents the overall results of the elections. More information about the Electoral Council can be found on http://www.kiesraad.nl/English-Home.html

More general information about the elections and the formation of a new Cabinet can be found on the "Elections" page.