Groenlinks

(GL; GREEN LEFT)

   A political party that emerged in 1989 from a coalition of four former parties: the Dutch Communist Party (CPN); the Evangelische Volkspartij (EVP, Evan gelical People’s Party), founded in 1981; the Politieke Partij Radi calen (PPR); and the Pacifistisch Socialistische Partij (PSP). After the coalition won six seats in the parliamentary elections of 1989, the four merged definitively. The party had its greatest electoral suc cess in 1998, winning 11 out of 150 seats; after the November 2006 elections, it held seven seats. During international crises, such as the bombardments on Serbia in 1999 and the intervention in Afghanistan in 2000, GLwas at odds with its pacifistprinciples, supporting these wars. The most important party issue is a social and durable economy that is friendly toward the environment. GL is against the monar chy. Prominent leaders have included Paul Rosenmuller (1956– ) and Femke Halsema (1966– ). In the European Parliament (EP), GL participates in the party of Greens-European Free Alliance.