The Dutch Labour party (PvdA) and the left-wing greens of GroenLinks are to merge next year, following a vote overwhelmingly in favour by members.
Some 88% of PvdA members and 89% of GroenLinks members backed the merger in a referendum this week. But the formal procedure will not take place in time for the October 29 national vote, when the two parties will operate a joint list of candidates.
The two parties pulled together following the dramatic election results of 2021, when both were all but wiped out. GroenLinks and PvdA then joined forces in the last election under the leadership of former EU commissioner Frans Timmermans, coming in second place with 25 seats in the 150-seat parliament.
The new party will not kick off until the spring of 2026 at a special party conference when members will decide on a new name.
The merger is the result of years of political bickering about a closer alliance between left-wing parties in the Netherlands. Since World War II, the Netherlands has had just three left-wing prime ministers, all PvdA leaders.
The Netherlands’ party system is highly factured and the divided vote meant the left often lagged behind the right-wing winners.
The latest poll of polls puts GroenLinks-PvdA in second place after the far-right PVV with up to 29 and 34 seats respectively.
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