She has quite the power
November 25, 2006My Queen has power. And then some.
After election results are in, the Queen is visited by each party’s political leader. They all give their own respective interpretation of the results, and they give advice as to what kind of cabinet should be formed. After this, the Queen counsels her advisers (mostly members of the Counsil of State) and staff. In the end, it is the Queen who selects the person who will either form the cabinet and government (basically the new prime-minister) or who will only try to find out what parties want to cooperate to form a coalition. The latter will happen after this week’s election results. Today, the last political leaders went to visit the Queen. It’s common, although not by law or anything, not to speak in public of conversations you had in private with the Queen, and hence we never really know what she thinks.
So, yeah, she has quite the power. Luckily.
Politics | 
“In the end, it is the Queen who selects the person who will either form the cabinet and government (basically the new prime-minister) or who will only try to find out what parties want to cooperate to form a coalition.”
Very Democratic indeed. I always thought the Netherlands were a democratic country, apparently, not so.
Comment by Pierre — November 25, 2006 @ 6:48 pm
She must comply with what the parties advise her. If she disregards the advice, we’ll have a constitutional crisis on our hands. You see, the previous government is still in power. Were the Queen to disregard the advice, this government would quickly pass a law putting the monarchy down. You see, the Queen reigns by the grace of the people. Without the people, she is powerless. She does not control the military, she does not control the governmental machine, etc.
Hence, in the past 170 years of our monarchy, the monarch has never disregarded this.
Comment by Administrator — November 25, 2006 @ 6:54 pm
“It’s common, although not by law or anything, not to speak in public of conversations you had in private with the Queen, and hence we never really know what she thinks.”
I’m glad the people have the decency not to reveal private conversations they have with the queen. My biggest complaint here in the US is that somebody always leaks stuff to the media.
Comment by John S. — November 25, 2006 @ 8:29 pm
So, yeah, she has quite the power.
vs
She must comply with what the parties advise her.
So no, she has no power, only symbolic power… Thankfully.
Comment by Edwin — November 27, 2006 @ 8:09 am
The backwards-ass Europeans still have monarchies. It’s not surprising though. The Europeans like being dictated to. That’s why they love socialism and their monarchies.
My name is David and I suck dick.
Comment by Dave — November 28, 2006 @ 7:06 am