The latest opinion poll conducted by prominent pollster Maurice de Hond suggests the Labour Party (PvdA) would win 27 seats if elections were held in the Netherlands today.

That is three more than last week, when party leader Wouter Bos had yet to announce his decision to step aside in favour of Job Cohen, who has been mayor of Amsterdam for the past nine years.
 
The same poll found that Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) would become the second biggest in the country with 26 seats, while the Christian Democratic CDA would win 25 seats and the conservative VVD 20.
 
Maurice de Hond believes that the exchange of Job Cohen for Wouter Bos as Labour Party leader will have a big impact on the course of campaigning in the run up to the national elections on 9 June. He notes that the number of people considering voting for the Labour Party has risen to 28 percent since the change was announced.
 
The ‘Cohen effect’ will also have consequences for the position of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, the -no longer undisputed - leader of the CDA. It’s possible he may come under pressure to step aside.
 
The poll also shows that - on the basis of these results - it would be almost impossible to form any workable governing coalitions. The only majority coalition possible with just three parties would be one between the PvdA, the PVV and the CDA. However, that has already been ruled out because the PvdA says it will not govern with the PVV. Mr Cohen has said he would like to see a left-wing cabinet: “The more progressive, the better”.
 
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide