New Republican Society
 | |
| Abbreviation | NRG |
|---|---|
| Formation | 21 January 1998 |
| Type | Nonprofit organisation |
| Purpose | Advocating a republic |
Region served | Netherlands |
Chair | Hans Maessen |
| Affiliations | Alliance of European Republican Movements |
| Website | republikeinen.nl |
The New Republican Society (Dutch: Nieuw Republikeins Genootschap, NRG) is a Dutch republican society, founded in January 1998 in Amsterdam by Ewout Irrgang and Elisabeth van der Steenhoven, as opposed to the Republican Society (Republikeins Genootschap) that only allows members by co-option.[1]
Aims
The NRG opposes the Dutch monarchy because of its successive nature and seeks to form a republic through democratic means. The immediate cause of the establishment of the NRG were the celebrations which marked the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Beatrix and the closing of the Dam in Amsterdam for these festivities. On 20 January 1998, the NRG released a Republican manifesto, and on 29 January of the same year former NRG spokesman Erik van den Muijzenberg, under the eyes of the international press, proclaimed the Third Republic of the Netherlands on the Dam Square.
NRG seeks to bridge the discrepancy between the Dutch form of government and its democratic order by creating a republican form of government. The NRG achieves this by the numerous developments and incidents, as result of the inevitable friction, critically examining them and stimulating the discussion of this matter. Nationally but also regionally, the NRG is active in this field.
From a small movement with a few members, the organization in eight years time grew into a union with more than 1,300 members and seven regional offices as of 2006.[2][3]
The society was manifested among others at the wedding of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima Zorreguieta on 2 February 2002.[4]
Following the enlargement of the European Union, thirteen Republican organizations from all the monarchies of the EU on 1 May 2004, sent a petition to the European Parliament. The thirteen organizations asked the abolishment of constitutional monarchy throughout the European Union.[5] The petition is an initiative of the Belgian Republican Circle (Republikeinse Kring-CRK). In the Netherlands, the petition was signed by the NRG.
The NRG is a member of the Alliance of European Republican Movements or AERM.
Each year, the NRG awards the title of Republican of the Year to the person that has best encouraged discussion on the abolishment of the monarchy. In 2015, comedian Arjen Lubach was given the award for the 22 March 2015 episode of his satirical talkshow Zondag met Lubach, in which he mocked the monarchy by proclaiming himself "Pharao of the Netherlands" and launched a citizens' initiative with more than 100,000 signatures to confirm it.[6][7]
Board of directors
- Current board (2015–2018)
Elected at the General Assembly of 21 November 2015.
- Hans Maessen (chair)
- Gerrit van Malkenhorst (treasurer)
- Ella de Snoo
- Lex Moen
- Boudewijn 't Hart
- Bert Steenbruggen (not pictured)
References
- ↑ Decraene, Marcel (8 October 2009). "Kritiek op koningshuis goed voor Republikeinse gedachte?" (in Dutch). Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ↑ "Nieuw Republikeins Genootschap telt veel nieuwe leden" (in Dutch). nos.nl. 28 January 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ↑ "Republikeins Genootschap ziet aanhang groeien" (in Dutch). Volkskrant. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ↑ "Nieuw Republikeins Genootschap telt veel nieuwe leden" (in Dutch). nos.nl. 28 January 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ↑ "Verzoekschrift van het Europees platform voor de Republiek" (in Dutch, German, and French). Republikeinse Kring. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ↑ "Lubach zet benoeming farao op Kameragenda". de Volkskrant. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ↑ "Cabaretier wil farao van Nederland worden: parlement moet er zich over buigen". De Morgen. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
External links
- Official website (Dutch)