States of Zeeland
| States of Zeeland Staten van Zeeland | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Chairman | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 39 |
Political groups |
Government (22)
Opposition (17)
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 18 March 2015 |
Next election | March 2019 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
The States of Zeeland (Dutch: Staten van Zeeland, pronounced [ˈstaːtə(n) vɑn ˈzeːlɑnt]) are the States-Provincial for the Dutch province of Zeeland. It forms the legislative body of the province. Its 39 seats are distributed every four years in provincial elections. Since 2013, it has been chaired by Han Polman (D66).[1]
History
During the rule of Charles V, the States of Zeeland was made up of prelates from the area (e.g. the abbot of the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Abdij in Middelburg), the main nobles of Zeeland (the Ridderschap) and representatives of the area's six largest cities (known as pensionaries). These cities were Middelburg, Zierikzee, Goes, Reimerswaal and Tholen (with Vlissingen and Veere added after the Dutch Revolt). Decisions were taken by majority vote and the body and area were represented at the States General of the Netherlands by the Grand Pensionary of Zeeland, with this regional states (like the others) also nominating Zeeland's members of the States-General. Its executive board was known as the Gecommitteerde Raden. From 1578, these, the Zeeuwse Admiraliteitscollege and other regional representatives oversaw the Admiralty of Zeeland.
Current composition
Since the 2015 provincial elections, the seats of the States of Zeeland are as following:[2]
| Party | Votes | Seats | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | +/- | ||
| Christian Democratic Appeal | 21,847 | 14.53 | 6 |  0 | |
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | 20,303 | 13.51 | 6 |  1 | |
| Reformed Political Party | 19,629 | 13.06 | 6 |  2 | |
| Socialist Party | 16,262 | 10.82 | 4 | 2 | |
| Party for Freedom | 15,434 | 10.27 | 4 | 1 | |
| Labour Party | 14,189 | 9.44 | 4 | 3 | |
| Democrats 66 | 10,403 | 6.92 | 3 | 1 | |
| ChristianUnion | 8,607 | 5.73 | 2 | | |
| Zeeland Local | 5,815 | 3.87 | 1 | New | |
| Party for Zeeland | 5,787 | 3.85 | 1 | 1 | |
| GreenLeft | 5,198 | 3.46 | 1 | | |
| 50PLUS | 4,457 | 2.97 | 1 | 1 | |
| Provincial Interest Zeeland | 2,388 | 1.59 | 0 | New | |
See also
References
- ↑ "Commissaris van de Koning". Bestuur Zeeland (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ↑ "Verkiezingsuitslagen 1918 tot heden". Kiesraad (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 June 2015.
External links
- Official website (Dutch)