Dutch mayors don’t like the idea of being chosen by public vote

The subject of elected mayors is likely to be part of the next coalition agreement but a survey by current affairs show Nieuwsuur shows just 10% of the country’s mayors support appointment by public vote.

In total, 237 of the 388 mayors in the Netherlands responded to the survey, with two-thirds favouring no change to the established system. At the moment people can apply for the job of mayor and the council concerned draws up a shortlist, but appointments are technically made by the king.

Critics of the current system say it is further evidence of the way influential jobs are passed around between political parties and established figures and there is little room for outsiders to break through.

The appointment of ex Labour MP Ahmed Marcouch as mayor of Arnhem, a city he had no connections with, is said to be a prime example of jobs for the boys.

The survey found 89 mayors were concerned about the consequences of bringing in elected mayors while over 80% said they do not think the application procedure should be made more transparent.

Most mayors in the Netherlands are white, middle-aged men. Around 20% are women and there are a handful of ethnic minority mayors. Appointments are also dominated by national parties – the CDA has supplied 110 mayors, the VVD 94 and the Labour party 69, Nieuwsuur said.