Voting upstaged

Press, 26 May 1977, Page 1

Voting upstaged

NZPA The Hague Voting in the Dutch General Election began yesterday — overshadowed by the dramatic events in the north. The main electoral rivals —the Labour Prime Minister (Mr Joop Den Uyl) and the Justice Minister (Mr Andreas Van Agt), of the Christian Democrats—have been closeted together almost constantly for the last two days seeking ways of saving the hostages without capitulating to the demands of the guerrillas. Neither the two big parties, nor the other 23 parties contesting the election for the 150 seats in the Second Chamber of Par-

liament, have sought political advantage from the kidnap dilemma facing the Government Mr Den Uyl made it clear when the guerrilla attacks took place four days ago that the elections would go ahead as planned. “To give up the elections could be interpreted as the abandonment of our normal tasks and duty in the face of the terrorist act” he said. The Government fell more than two months ago. But it has served since in a caretaker capacity, and will continue to do so until a new government is formed, a complicated process which may take months.