Roman Catholic State Party

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This article is about the Dutch political party. For the Polish party, see Catholic People's Party (Poland).
Roman Catholic State Party
Roomsch-Katholieke Staatspartij

The Roman Catholic State Party (

General League of Roman Catholic Caucuses. During its entire existence, the party was in government. In 1945 the party became the Catholic People's Party
(KVP).

History

Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck was Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1918 to 1925, and again from 1929 to 1933.

The RKSP was founded 3 June 1926, as the continuation of the

General League of Roman Catholic Caucuses. Since 1918, the General League called itself RKSP informally. Instead of the loose league of caucuses with little party discipline, as the General League was, the RKSP became a real party, with stronger party discipline and organisation. In 1922 another Catholic party, the Roman Catholic People's Party
, was founded by former members of the General League. It was oriented towards Catholic workers. The General League received little competition from this party, but accelerated the RKSP's process of party-formation.

During the 1920s and the 1930s, the RKSP was the biggest party in the Netherlands, receiving a steady 30% percent of the vote at each election. During this entire period the party was in government, in coalition with the

House of Representatives of the States General were all occupied by Protestants. The RKSP also supplied only one Prime Minister, Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck
, between 1929 and 1933.

The cooperation with the ARP and CHU was problematic. In 1925 the Ruijs de Beerenbrouck cabinet was composed of the ARP, the CHU and the General League fell over the Dutch representation at the Holy See. This issue continued to divide the RKSP and the CHU and the ARP, as did the prohibition of traditional marches by Catholic churches and the role of government in the economy. The second Colijn cabinet fell because the RKSP wanted a more interventionist economic policy, but that cabinet was restored. In 1939, however, the fourth Colijn cabinet fell again on economic policy. In 1939, a coalition of RKSP, CHU, Free-thinking Democratic League (VDB) and Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP) ended more than 20 years of Coalition government.

After World War II, the RKSP was replaced by the Catholic People's Party.

Ideology

The RKSP based on biblical norms and

alcohol addiction
should be combated.

The party was a staunch proponent of a

labour legislation. During Great Depression
, the call for a more active role of government was strengthened.

Regarding foreign affairs, the RKSP was an advocate of Dutch neutrality, which was to be maintained by a strong army and navy. Furthermore, the party was in favour of the colonial government of the Dutch East Indies.

Electoral performance

Election Votes Seats Position Government
# % # ±
1929 1,001,589 29.6
30 / 100
 Steady Steady 1st Coalition
1933 1,037,364 27.9
28 / 100
 Decrease 2 Steady 1st Coalition
1937 1,170,431 28.8
31 / 100
 Increase 3 Steady 1st Coalition

Linked organisations

The KVP had close links to many other Catholic institutions such as the

KRO and the Catholic paper De Volkskrant
were the voices of the RKSP.

Important figures

The Limburg-based priest Weil Nolens led the party since its foundation, till his death in 1931.

The former professor and minister

Piet Aalberse
succeeded Nolens.

Other prominent figures were

Carl Paul Maria Romme
, who would lead the KVP in the 1940s and 1950s.

Electorate

The RKSP was supported by Catholics of all classes. In North Brabant and Limburg, it often got more than 90% of the vote.

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-137-31484-0
    .

Literature

External links
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