Again trouble in SP: Rotterdam department splits from national party | Inland

The reason for the break is, among other things, the expulsion of the intended SP party leader Arno van der Veen two weeks ago. Van der Veen was expelled from the party because he would be a member of another party and because he had put a previously expelled member on the list of candidates for the municipal elections. The departmental board of the Rotterdam SP department was also previously suspended because they had put members on the election list who are not members of the party.

“The national party has decided to disrupt the local SP department in such a way that we are forced to join forces in other ways,” said expelled department chairman Tijs Hardam. “As socialists, we therefore initiate a new initiative in Rotterdam. An initiative that continues the ideals and actions of our department beyond the coercive hand of the party leadership.”

On December 30 and January 10 there are still members’ meetings of the Rotterdam SP department “where members will try to resolve the conflict within the SP”, according to the press release. Nevertheless, the SP members in the municipal council will immediately continue under the name Socialisten 010. The party hopes to have a list of candidates for the municipal elections by the end of January.

‘Not surprised’

Party chairman of the SP Jannie Visscher says he is not surprised by the decision. “These people had already made it clear before that their loyalty was not so much linked to the SP,” said the chairman, who had to hear the news through “public statements”. “We want people who represent the people for us in the city council who do for the SP to be members and not also be members of another party.” Despite the loss of members, Visscher is confident that “enough people with experience can be added to the Rotterdam candidate list” for the upcoming municipal elections.

Break with youth branch

The SP expelled more than thirty members in October because, according to the party, they were also members of another political party. These are members who were also active in the former youth organization ROOD, such as Van der Veen, or the Marxist Forum. Members see these as associations within the party, but the SP itself considers the organizations as separate political parties.

The SP broke with its youth branch last year. The party and the youth movement had been on a collision course for some time, partly because two expelled SP members had been appointed to the board. They had been expelled from the party for membership in the Communist Platform.

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