Page "Centre Democrats (Netherlands)" Paragraph 15

The Centre Democrats was strongly opposed to multiculturalism and immigration.

It did not, however, exclude people based on ethnicity.

It spoke, initially at least, of a Dutch population rather than a Dutch ethnic community.

The party remained distinct from ethnic nationalists, as it gave immigrants the choice between repatriation or assimilation.

Its 1989 party program stated that " foreigners and minorities either adjust to the Dutch ways and customs or leave the country.

" The Centre Democrats considered Dutch culture to be under threat from foreigners, and that Muslims in particular had come to the Netherlands with the intention of taking over or dominating the country.

Also opposed to " multicultural marriages ," and wanting to limit the possibility of adoptions from the Third World, the CP generally sought a return to the old Dutch society with its singular Dutch culture.

According to political scientist Cas Mudde, the party's ideology is best described as civic nationalism.

Nevertheless, by 1994 the party had moved more towards ethnic nationalism by asserting that its program began " from the indissoluble unity and solidarity of the Dutch ethnic community [...] based on the common history and the culture that originated from that history.