Lijstduwer

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Dutch professional swimmer Maarten van der Weijden was chosen as the lijstduwer for the VVD in the 2017 and 2021 elections

Lijstduwer (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈlɛistˌdyʋər], 'list pusher') is a Dutch term for the last candidate on a party list.[1]

In Suriname, the Netherlands and Belgium, this position is often taken by well-known non-politicians such as artists, celebrities and sports people. They are officially a candidate, but they are put at the end of the party list (in an unelectable position) in a bid to attract more votes for the party and as a sign they endorse that specific party.[2][3] In local elections, ordinary people who are well known in the community might also act as lijstduwer.

Since these electoral systems use open list party-list proportional representation, votes cast to the lijstduwer add up to the total number of votes, and hence seats for the party. The candidate is not likely to become a member of the elected body due to the low placement on the list, and generally rejects the position if they gather enough preference votes for a full seat (which they can claim under the Dutch system). There can be more than one lijstduwer.[4] How many members on the list can be considered lijstduwer varies. In the broader definition, candidates who are lower on the list than the number of seats a party is likely to win, are considered lijstduwers.

In Israel, which uses a closed list nationwide proportional representation system, the tradition of choosing elder statesmen and celebrities as candidates in the lowest places of the list also exists, but without a special term.[5]

As some local elections in Germany have cumulative voting and panachage the last place on the party list is sometimes given to a more prominent or high profile candidate for similar reasons to the phenomenon in the Netherlands.

Well-known national politicians can act as lijstduwer on the list for the European and municipal elections.

Notable lijstduwers in Dutch general elections[]

Main article: Elections in the Netherlands

See also[]

  • Lijsttrekker, first candidate on a party's list

References[]

  1. ^ "Who can vote and for whom? How the Dutch electoral system works". DutchNews.nl. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  2. ^ Soares da Silva, Augusto, ed. (2014). Pluricentricity: Language Variation and Sociocognitive Dimensions. Berlin/Boston: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. p. 139. ISBN 9783110303643. Retrieved 17 March 2017. Finally lijstduwer is a politician that is supposed to attract votes for his party
  3. ^ Terry, Chris (11 May 2014). "The Netherlands – EU Parliamentary Elections". The Democratic Society. Retrieved 17 March 2017. Sometimes parties put a lijstduwer (list-pusher) on the last place of their list. Often this will be a famous elder statesman of the party, a former PM for instance, or a well-loved celebrity. Generally lijstduwer’s do not actually want to be elected but they can help attract votes for their party.
  4. ^ "Onze kandidatenlijst (Our candidates)". PvdA (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  5. ^ "נשיא, שר, משורר, רב: מי במקום ה-120? (A President, a Minister, a Poet, a Rabbi - who is in the 120th place?)". Ynet.
  6. ^ "VVD-lijstduwer Van der Weijden gelooft in stimuleren en zelf doen". NOS (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Foppe de Haan, lijstduwer uit het noorden". NOS (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  8. ^ "De politieke ambities van voetbaltrainer Wiljan Vloet". NOS (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.


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