Polarisation strategy

By highlighting these differences, the party attempted to create a division in Dutch politics based on conservative versus progressive lines.

[1] According to political scientist Philip van Praag, the polarisation strategy had three characteristics:[2] The polarisation strategy was a renewal of the breakthrough idea that the PvdA had embraced since World War II, aimed at breaking through political pillarisation.

[2] The Night of Schmelzer in 1966 and the subsequent fall of the Cals cabinet are considered the starting points of the polarisation strategy.

From that moment, the PvdA wanted to distance itself from the KVP, which they saw as unreliable because they used their centre position to govern alternately with the left and right.

After nearly half a year, the negotiations failed, and the CDA formed the first Van Agt cabinet with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).