Politicians have been warned not to damage voters’ trust further by making unrealistic promises or polarising issues during the upcoming election campaign.
The government’s socio-economic think-tank added its voice to concerns about the failure of political parties to come up with viable plans on issues such as migration, climate change and the housing shortage.
“There is a real need for a government that tackles problems, is reliable and offers realistic solutions,” SCP researcher Willem Huijnk told RTL Nieuws.
“During elections it is tempting to promise more than you can deliver,” the SCP wrote in a message addressed to all political parties. “But it will only make the low trust in politics worse.
“Magnifying the differences between groups in society and the sometimes hostile and hard tone in politics are not helpful.”
Recent studies by the SCP showed that trust in the government has slumped among university and college-educated people to the same level as those with a basic level of education.
Another problem highlighted by the agency is the lack of contact between people in the highest and lowest income brackets and the neglect of vulnerable communities in regions such as eastern Groningen, southern Limburg and the poorest suburbs of Rotterdam.
Last week the national audit office urged political parties to make realistic plans and ensure that they were financially viable in their manifestos for the October election.
Audit office chief Pieter Duisenberg told politicians they must avoid “wishful thinking” that produces unfeasible coalition agreements. It is the first time the agency has written directly to political parties about their election pledges.
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