Democracy in Crisis? When Voters’ Choices Meet Political Refusal

Democracy: What It Means and Why It Matters

Democracy—literally “rule by the people”—is the system where citizens choose their leaders and influence decisions through voting, debate, and representation. Its core principles include:

1. Popular Sovereignty – the idea that ultimate authority rests with the people.
2. Political Equality – every citizen’s vote carries the same weight.
3. Rule of Law – all are subject to fair, transparent legal frameworks.
4. Accountability – elected officials answer to voters.
5. Pluralism & Tolerance – acceptance of diverse views.

A reliable overview of democratic ideals can be found at Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, a highly respected academic resource.

The 2023 Dutch Election and Geert Wilders

In November 2023, the Netherlands held a landmark parliamentary election. Populist leader Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom (PVV) won 37 seats—the largest share in the 150-seat Tweede Kamer—marking a major shift in Dutch politics en.wikipedia.org+1time.com+1.

Despite this victory, forming a government wasn’t straightforward. Dutch systems require coalition-building, and no major party was willing to partner with PVV. Ultimately, a coalition—including PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB—was agreed in mid‑2024 under PM Dick Schoof en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3.

The Government Collapse

By June 2025, tensions over asylum and migration policy erupted. Wilders presented a hardline 10‑point plan on immigration. When other parties refused to endorse it, he withdrew his ministers, collapsing the government reuters.com+9en.wikipedia.org+9thetimes.co.uk+9.

This triggered:

• PM Schoof’s resignation jacobin.com+15apnews.com+15reuters.com+15.
• Formation of a caretaker government to bridge until new elections wsws.org+10apnews.com+10apnews.com+10.
• Snap elections scheduled for October 29, 2025 en.wikipedia.org+1thetimes.co.uk+1.

Coalition Parties’ Refusal

Key Dutch parties like VVD publicly stated PVV was “unbelievably untrustworthy” and refused both coalition and confidence‑and‑supply cooperation reuters.com+2theguardian.com+2reuters.com+2.

This raises an important question: if voters gave PVV the most seats, is it undemocratic for other parties to refuse cooperation?

Does This Collide with Democracy?

1. The Voice of Voters vs. Political Reality

Yes, the voters chose Wilders’s party—but coalition politics means no single party governs alone. Other parties argue cooperation might harm democratic stability or violate democratic norms.

Yet… imagine a workplace: you might not want to work with some colleagues, but you still must if that’s your job. So why do politicians get a “luxury” to reject cooperation with elected peers?

2. The Workplace Analogy

• In the office, employees must work with colleagues they may not like, for the greater good.
• Democracy demands the same mentality: public office is not personal preference but public service.
• When politicians reject partners outright, based on ideology or mistrust, they divide the will of the people.

3. The “Cordon Sanitaire” Tradition

In some democracies, mainstream parties refuse to work with extremists. The Netherlands once applied a “cordon sanitaire” to parties like Centrumdemocraten en.wikipedia.org.

However, that sets a double standard: in work life, exclusion is often dismissed as unprofessional. In politics, similar behavior is accepted—and can silence large voter blocs.

Parallels in Norway: When Governance Overrides Representation

In Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre (Labour) is President of the Storting, but some argue that he and the parliamentary majority run an agenda without engaging minority voices en.wikipedia.org. Meanwhile, high-profile figures like Sylvi Listhaug were effectively sidelined by major parties during her anti-immigration campaign jacobin.com.

The result? People feel heard—votes are counted—but not respected when governing coalitions dictate the agenda without inclusive negotiation.

Has the People’s Voice Been Disregarded?

In both the Netherlands and Norway:

• Voter turnout is high.
• Voices are loud.
• But representation falters once election results enter coalition chambers.

In essence:

• Democracy =not just voting; it’s also about compromise, inclusion, and collective governance.
• If voters feel their voices “don’t count” once outcomes become inconvenient, disillusionment is inevitable.
• Excluding elected parties signals: politics is by professionals, not the public.

Why Politicians Shouldn’t “Pick and Choose”

1. Representation – When PVV won most seats, that reflects real concerns among citizens.
2. Public Service Ethos – Like in any job, duty can clash with preference.
3. Trust in Democracy – Refusing to work with “the other side” shakes public faith in institutions.
4. Avoiding Polarization – Broad coalitions foster unity, while exclusions fuel division.
5. Equality of Votes – Democracy is diminished when some votes are treated as unworthy.

Balancing Norms and Democracy

Some exclusions are legitimate—if a party actively opposes democratic values, for instance. But blanket dismissals based on ideological discomfort are dangerous territory.

• Workplace ethic: we don’t ask co‑workers who they slept with or what they believe—just that they work.
• Nation ethic: we shouldn’t dismiss politicians if they’re democratically elected and constitutionally viable partners.

Conclusion: Democracy Is More Than Winning

Democracy is both ballot and boardroom.

• The ballot expresses voter intent.
• The boardroom (or parliament, cabinet room) demands collaboration, discipline, and prioritizing the nation’s interests above personal biases.

Workers must co‑operate. Politicians, the same. Rejecting fully‑elected parties erodes democracy.

Final Take

We must remember: democracy isn’t just a game won and closed, but a continuous process of respectful, sometimes uneasy cooperation—as ordinary workplaces show us every day.