The Party for the Animals has narrowly approved a motion that labels an increase in defense spending as a “necessary evil.” This decision comes amid internal divisions regarding the party’s traditional pacifist stance and the outgoing cabinet’s proposal to raise the NATO standard.

The vote, held at the party congress in Amersfoort, saw 51 percent of members support the motion. This provides party leader Esther Ouwehand with conditional leeway to continue her defense policy.

Internal criticism has been strong, particularly from party founder Marianne Thieme, the youth organization Pink!, the Senate faction, and local branches. Thieme accused the faction of “voter deception,” stating that the shift towards militarization does not represent the party’s mandate from the November 2023 elections.

Ouwehand’s support for defense spending does not equate to endorsing the cabinet’s proposed increase in the NATO standard. She has characterized it as a “Trump standard” and emphasized that she will only support increased defense spending if investments are also made in environmental protection and nature conservation.

The outcome of this vote is significant for the outgoing cabinet, as Prime Minister Schoof and Minister of Defense Brekelmans seek support for their NATO proposal in the House of Representatives. While support appears likely even without the Party for the Animals, disagreements persist regarding budget allocation. The GroenLinks-PvdA faction, crucial for securing a majority, insists that increased defense spending should not compromise the welfare state. The member consultations will continue even before the elections of October 29.