Some 79% of Christian Democratic party supporters hope the CDA will back the new coalition agreement at this weekend’s ratification congress in Arnhem, according to an early poll by Maurice de Hond.

And between 70% and 80% of the general population back the tough new measures on immigration and integration, the poll shows.
The final results will be published later on Friday.
Congress
Meanwhile, over 4,000 CDA members have signed up for the congress – compared with just 1,000 who turn up to the party’s annual general meeting.
A number of regional branches of the party are holding their own meetings today.
Two MPs – Ad Koppejan and Kathleen Ferrier – are still opposed to the alliance with Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam party but have both said they expect the conference to vote in favour.
They hold the key to the CDA’s approval of the deal. The new coalition will only be able to count on the support of 76 out of 150 MPs and any defections mean the coalition will have to look to other parties for support.
Muslim CDA
According to the Volkskrant, a number of CDA Muslims have asked the party leadership how to sell the link with the anti-Muslim party to their supporters.
‘We are under enormous pressure,’ said Eindhoven city councillor Ibrahim Wijbenga. ‘I don’t think anyone will vote for us anymore.’
They plan to discuss the position of Muslims within the CDA at the Saturday conference.
‘The CDA wants to be considered a broad peoples’ party,’ Wijbenga said. ‘But a large number of Muslims no longer recognise themselves in the CDA.’