Premier favourite, Environment minister most distrusted

Confidence in the government has declined since it took office. Premier Jan Peter Balkenende is the most popular minister, while Environment Minister Jacqueline Cramer is most distrusted, according to a poll by TV programme EenVandaag.

EenVandaag surveyed the 22,000 participants in its permanent opinion panel with respect to the government’s 100-day period in office that officially ended yesterday. The initiative to enter into dialogue with citizens for 100 days was appreciated by 54 percent of respondents. Nonetheless, only 31 percent think that the cabinet has been influenced by the meetings with citizens in drawing up its policy. According to 59 percent, the 100-days initiative was a publicity stunt.

The cabinet as a whole was given a rating of 5.6. In February, when it took office, this was 5.9. The number of respondents expressing confidence in the cabinet is smaller (at 26 percent) than the number with no confidence (37 percent). The rest are neutral.

Christian democratic (CDA) voters are most likely to express confidence in the cabinet (56 percent). Among supporters of small Christian party ChristenUnie, the figure is 54 percent, but among Labour (PvdA) supporters, only 27 percent.

With 15 percent of the votes, Balkenende is the favourite minister. Second place (13 percent) was for Youth and Family Minister Andre Rouvoet (ChristenUnie). If only women could vote, Rouvoet would however be the favourite minister. Rouvoet shared second place with Education Minister Ronald Plasterk (PvdA).

Plasterk does however come top on the list of ministers inspiring the most confidence, scoring 47 percent. Rouvoet and Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin come next. Finance Minister Wouter Bos comes only 11th. Not a single individual minister inspired confidence among a majority.

The list of ministers in which respondents had least confidence is headed by Environment Minister Cramer. She is followed by Agriculture Minister Gerda Verburg, Health Minister Ab Klink and Integration Minister Ella Vogelaar.

If the Opinion Panel were to vote for the Lower House, the Socialist Party would be the biggest party with 26 seats. CDA would win 23 seats and Party for Freedom (PVV), 20. The conservatives (VVD) would get 16 seats and PvdA, only 15.

Source: NIS News, 14 June 2007