Dutch voters’ anger is fuelling populism

GEENPEIL (“no poll”) is a new Dutch political party that has the unusual distinction of having no programme. Instead it promises to ask its members how to vote on every bill, via an online interface. Its founder, Bart Nijman, thinks this will help solve the biggest problem in Dutch politics: the sense many citizens have that they are ruled by an arrogant, unaccountable elite. On March 6th GeenPeil’s campaign rolled into Heerhugowaard, a town of red-brick modern developments 30km (19 miles) north of Amsterdam. Some of the entourage went to canvass voters while Mr Nijman stayed on the bus, typing ceaselessly on a laptop.