Princess Máxima should not be allowed to call herself queen when her husband Crown Prince Willem-Alexander ascends the throne, say three Dutch opposition parties.
The orthodox Christian newspaper Nederlands Dagblad reports that the Labour Party (PvdA), the Green Left party and the Animal Rights Party were referring to the tradition dictating that the king's wife automatically becomes queen. They argue that men and women should be treated equally, and that it would be strange for Máxima to become queen while Queen Beatrix’s husband Prince Claus was not allowed to become king.
Green Left MP Ineke van Gent spoke of a sexist, out-of-date system. Labour Party MP Pierre Heijnen denied that his party begrudged the princess the title of queen: "Máxima is extremely popular among PvdA voters, but we want to be consistent: Claus was just as dear to us then as Máxima is today."
The Christian democratic CDA, the Christian Union and the orthodox Christian party SGP want to uphold the tradition that Dutch kings have a queen at their side.
The conservative VVD and the democrat party D66 don't feel as strongly, but do not want to make an issue out of the situation. "A king has a queen, otherwise my daughter will no longer understand,” D66 leader Alexander Pechtold said.
According to the Nederlands Dagblad, whether Princess Máxima will become Queen Máxima will come down to the Socialist and Freedom Parties. The Socialist Party has not yet formulated a position and the Freedom Party was not available for comment.
(gsh/ae)
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Maxima should become a queen, because she is a treasure for the Netherlands, and she could open up the doors for trade, cultural and social contacts with the whole of Latin America.
Some people have just WAAAY to much spare time.
King stands above Queen, if Prince Claus was made King, he would be the head of state, not Queen Beatrix, simple as that.