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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

MONTH: December 2006

Dutch Party of the Animals wins 2 seats

 

AMSTERDAM--Two candidates fielded by the Dutch Party of the Animals on November 22, 2006 won seats in the 150-member Dutch legislature.

"We are thrilled," party leader Marianne Thieme said. "Finally we can start realizing our party's highest priority, namely ending all animal suffering. We want a constitutional amendment guaranteeing animals the right to freedom from pain, fear and stress caused by humans. Let's begin," Thieme suggested, "by easing the suffering of cows, pigs, and chickens stuck in factory farms."

Thirty candidates ran for the Party of the Animals, in an election so closely contested by the Christian Democrat and Labor parties that neither gained a majority and fringe parties have the chance to broker key roles in forming a coalition government.

A week after the Dutch election about 200 people celebrated the organization of a new British party, Animals Count, headed by World Society for the Protection of Animals education and training coordinator Jasmijn de Boo, 31.

Involved in Dutch animal welfare work since 1992, de Boo helped to organize the Dutch Party for the Animals. She was hired by WSPA in October 2004.

Priorities for Animals Count, de Boo told BBC News, would be ending hunting, factory farming, and live exports.