Job Cohen has stepped down as mayor of Amsterdam to head the Labour Party ticket in the Dutch general election on 9 June. His return to national politics - he was deputy minister in several previous cabinets and was the Labour Party's candidate for prime minister in 2003 - follows the retirement from politics of Wouter Bos, who was party leader and deputy prime minister.

When asked by Radio Netherlands Worldwide about his motives for running for prime minister, Mr Cohen responded: "I find there is a lot of crudeness and a lack of decency in our society. I would like to make a contribution to turning this trend around if possible."

There has been much praise for Job Cohen on social network sites such as - Dutch site - Hyves. There is also a page on Facebook with the title: 'Yes we Cohen!' - reflecting the "Yes we can!" slogan used by United States President Barack Obama during his 2008 election campaign. Some 12,000 Dutch supporters have registered so far.

Rising spirits
So, spirits are rising - certainly on the internet - about Labour's 'changing of the guard' and regarding Cohen's chances of becoming the next prime minister of the Netherlands after the 9 June parliamentary election. His supporters are confident he can beat Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders and the leader of the Christian Democrats, current caretaker prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

The Labour Party has been climbing in the polls since Job Cohen announced his candidacy. In his first week, Labour was shown to have won three 'virtual' seats and would now take 27 seats in the 150-seat parliament. The Freedom Party has 26 seats in the polls, which suggests that the race is already and may well stay neck-and-neck.

When asked about the effect that populist parties such as the Freedom Party could have on the image of the Netherlands, Job Cohen replies: "It's an image I would not like at all. That our country (the Netherlands) excludes people. I would project a different image." He says he hopes the next government will project fairness and decency.

Security
Mr Cohen also says the Netherlands should follow a course which enable people to have a sense of community and also feel safe. Indecency and intolerance should make way for a society where people have a sense of belonging. The Labour Party leader: "Safety is an important theme. Society must find a balance... There must be freedom of expression as well as freedom of religion."

Job Cohen is opposed to any future coalition with the Freedom Party - and it seems unlikely he will change his mind.

"So, don't think that later I will say it may be possible! Look, if you are talking about a decent society then you mean a society which includes people, and not one which excludes people. You should only exclude people who want to destroy our society. But anyone else - even if I totally disagree with his or her views - I am willing to include. As long as that person does not want to harm society in any way.

I see that the Freedom Party excludes people. And so long as that is the case I do not see any possibility of cooperation between Labour and the Freedom Party."