Roman Catholic People's Party Explained

The Roman Catholic People's Party (Dutch; Flemish: Roomsch-katholieke Volkspartij, RKVP) was a Social Catholic political party in the Netherlands. The RKVP played a marginal role in Dutch politics.

History

The RKVP was founded in 1923[1] by Pius Arts. In the 1925 general election, the party won one seat which was taken by Aarts. In the 1929 general election, the party lost its seat. In the 1933 general election, the party regained one seat. In the same year, the party merged with the Catholic Democratic League to form the Catholic Democratic Party. In 1939 this party merged with the Roman Catholic State Party, the larger, centrist, Catholic party.

Ideology and issues

The RKVP combined a conservative Catholic stance on ethical issues with a progressive, left-wing stance on economic issues.

It advocated the interest of Catholic workers and sought just taxation and a strong influence of labour unions in companies. It wanted to increase support for large families as well as price controls. The party was in favour of private home ownership and lower rents. It also supported national disarmament.

In ethical issues, it was as conservative as the Roman Catholic State Party, the larger, centrist, Catholic party. It advocated the re-institution of the envoy at the Holy See and an end to the ban on processions.

Leadership and support

This table shows the RKVP's results in elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, as well as the party's political leadership: the parliamentary leader and the lead candidate in general elections; these posts are normally taken by the party's leader.

YearHoRSLead candidateParliamentary leader
192510Pius AartsPius Aarts
192610no electionPius Aarts
192710no electionPius Aarts
192810no electionPius Aarts
192900Pius Aartsextra-parliamentary
193000no electionextra-parliamentary
193100no electionextra-parliamentary
193200no electionextra-parliamentary
193310Pius AartsPius Aarts
193410no electionPius Aarts
193510no electionPius Aarts
193610no electionPius Aarts

Electorate

The party drew most its support from Catholic workers from the region around Tiel, Aarts' home town.

Notes and References

  1. Page 110, Catholic Political Movements in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands: Notes for a Comparative Approach, Ellen L. Evans, Central European History