SGP departments vote against adjustment of the principle program that strengthens the position of woman within party

The SGP’s principle program does not state that women within the party themselves can know whether they want to become politically active. At the SGP congress in Nieuwegein on Saturday, a majority of the electoral associations present voted against an adjustment of the principle program. It now states that it states that women’s suffrage comes from « a revolutionary emancipation striving » and « in violation of the woman’s calling. »

The SGP Vlissingen made the proposal to change the text of the principle program, because according to the department it is no longer in line with legal and political practice. In 2014 the first woman for the SGP became active in Vlissingen, Lilian Janse. This happened after the SGP was forced by the Supreme Court to open the electoral lists to women. In recent years, women have reached the local SGP lists and Janse himself has grown into a highly respected SGP politician in Vlissingen and beyond.

Vlissingen had therefore proposed to include in the principle program that the question of whether women may be active for the SGP is « differentally assessed in our supporters ». SGP women should consider in their « own conscientation » whether they want to apply, « with due to her place given by God. » rejected at the congress.

Within the SGP there are still departments, especially in and around the Veluwe and the Betuwe, which are in principle against an active role of women in politics. The party was founded in 1918 for opposition to women’s suffrage and has a long tradition of internal debate about the role of women within the party. For example, after years of discussion, women were only allowed to become a member in 2006.

‘Shame’

The SGP Vlissingen says in a reaction to find it « a pity » that the principle program is not being adjusted. Reinier van den Bosse, vice -chairman of the department, says: « It is clear that the members are not yet ready for it. Walking together also means accepting that some developments are less likely than we would like. »

The sensitive discussion within the party about the women’s position is by no means over, because Vlissingen is simply continuing the plan to apply Lilian Janse for the next parliamentary elections. She hopes to be chosen with preference votes and tells This weekend in NRC that she has sympathy from the House of Representatives. ,, I know that the SGP faction in The Hague is the risk, or no, there is a good chance that a woman in the Chamber will be chosen in new elections. And they prefer a woman with political experience, so I was asked if I wanted to think about it. ”

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