JA21

Joost Eerdmans, co-founder and leader of the party

JA21 was founded on 18 December 2020 by Eerdmans and Nanninga, after they had left Forum for Democracy following an internal dispute over the party leadership's response to allegations of racism, antisemitism and homophobia against its youth wing (including of glorification Anders Breivik and Brenton Tarrant), and controversial statements made by party leader Thierry Baudet.[1][6][9] The party describes itself as a "proper" right-wing party and aims to fill the gap between the centre-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the more far-right Party for Freedom (PVV). Party leader Joost Eerdmans had previously been a member of parliament for the Pim Fortuyn List and served as deputy mayor of Rotterdam.[6][10]

On 20 December 2020, ex-Forum for Democracy MEPs Derk Jan Eppink, Rob Roos and Rob Rooken announced that they had become members of JA21.[11] Two days later, the independent Senate group Fractie-Van Pareren – consisting of seven ex-Forum for Democracy senators – joined JA21, making it the fourth largest party in the Senate.[7][12]

On 16 January 2021, the provincial group of Forum for Democracy in North Brabant split, with three members leaving Forum for Democracy to form the JA21 parliamentary group in the Provincial Council of North Brabant.[13] As Forum for Democracy was part of the province's coalition government at the time of the split, the new JA21 parliamentary group immediately entered the coalition after talks with the other coalition members.[14] This marked the first time that JA21 entered a coalition with other parties.

In its platform, JA21 describes itself as both liberal and conservative with an emphasis on personal freedom, political transparency and reliable government.[15] It states that it stands for "less regulatory burden, tax relief, a strict immigration policy and support for the entrepreneurs who make our country great".[16] The party also wants to strengthen the Netherlands' autonomy by reducing the influence of the European Union on domestic affairs by putting "Dutch interests first" and supporting the right to national self-determination.[16] It also supports a referendum on Dutch membership of the Eurozone, wants to revise Dutch membership of EU treaties and the Schengen Agreement, and renegotiate Dutch membership of the EU. JA21 is also opposed to the potential accession of Turkey to the European Union.[17] The party also wants to opt out of the EU asylum pact, regain full control over Dutch borders and expel illegal immigrants.[18] JA21 also opposes cuts to the police budget and calls for tougher prison sentences against those who attack emergency workers and repeatedly offend.[19] It also calls for compulsory measures for immigrants to learn Dutch, wants an end to foreign funding of mosques and Islamic schools, and states that people with dual nationality should be stripped of their Dutch citizenship if they join a foreign terrorist group.[20] The party also supports foreign investment and maintaining free trade agreements with other nations in order to stem flows of migration and wants good relations with the United Kingdom following Brexit.[21] JA21 also supports internet freedom and wants to protect the right to online privacy by preventing the government and big tech companies from mining personal data or breaching privacy laws.[22]

On its website, JA21 lists its beliefs as:[16]

• Immigration: in favor of a stricter immigration policy and a zero tolerance stance on illegal immigration
• Democracy: in favor of giving more power to the electorate through binding referendums
• Pensions: against EU control over Dutch pensions
• Security: in favor of a strong army and police, and a zero-tolerance policy for extremism
• European Union: against the transfer of resources from Northern to Southern Europe with focus for Eurorealism against Eurofederalism
• Health care: in favor of putting the interests of patients before the interests of health insurers
• Income: in favor of tax and welfare system reforms to create incentives to work
• Media and culture: in favor of depoliticizing the Dutch public broadcasting system, and more money for cultural heritage
• Education: against ideological homogeneity and identity politics in schools
• Entrepreneurship: in favor of support for small businesses; against government deals with multinational corporations
• Climate: against costly climate laws and agreements
• COVID-19 pandemic: in favor of science-based policy, for public health and the economy

• Group Otten

• Official website