# Otten Group > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Otten_Group > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Otten_Group.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otten_Group > Source revision: 1334493174 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Political party in the Netherlands Otten Group Groep Otten Abbreviation GO Leader Henk Otten Leader in the Senate Henk Otten Founder Henk Otten Founded 23 October 2019 (2019-10-23)[1] Split from Forum for Democracy Ideology Conservative liberalism Economic liberalism Open government Direct democracy Euroscepticism[2] Political position Centre-right to right-wing Colors Yellow Navy blue Senate 0 / 75 House of Representatives 0 / 150 Provincial councils 0 / 570 European Parliament 0 / 29 Website go2021.nl Politics of the Netherlands Political parties Elections The **Otten Group** ([Dutch](/source/Dutch_language): *Groep Otten*, **GO**) was a [political party](/source/Political_party) in the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands). It was formed following an internal conflict between [Henk Otten](/source/Henk_Otten), former [treasurer](/source/Treasurer) and board member of [Forum for Democracy](/source/Forum_for_Democracy) (FvD), and its leader [Thierry Baudet](/source/Thierry_Baudet). ## History ### Internal conflicts within Forum for Democracy After the establishment of Forum for Democracy in 2016, Otten and Baudet devoted themselves to the party's development. Shortly after its founding, the party managed to win two seats in the [2017 Dutch general election](/source/2017_Dutch_general_election). Further efforts led to a decisive victory two years later in the [2019 Dutch provincial elections](/source/2019_Dutch_provincial_elections), but the party was not able to form a [coalition](/source/Coalition_government) in any province. The parties involved blamed Baudet. His statements about social issues had been viewed by many as [far-right](/source/Far-right_politics), [racist](/source/Racism) and [misogynistic](/source/Misogyny);[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] some of his tweets were also controversial.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] On 19 April 2019, Otten stepped forward in an interview with Dutch newspaper *[NRC Handelsblad](/source/NRC_Handelsblad)*. In the interview, Otten criticised the party's course and Baudet's behaviour.[3] The party leader was "not amused" by this public criticism. A few days later, two of the party's three board members, Baudet and [Rob Rooken](/source/Rob_Rooken), accused Otten of taking money from the party treasury. The money in question was immediately deposited back to the party account by Otten.[4] Otten resigned as a party member at the request of the other board members. During this period, Otten opted for media silence to prevent further harm to the party. In the [2019 Dutch senate election](/source/2019_Dutch_Senate_election), Otten was the party's lead candidate and intended [group chairman](/source/Parliamentary_leader). After the conflict, Otten renounced the group chairmanship. He was succeeded by [Paul Cliteur](/source/Paul_Cliteur), with whom he entered the Senate (together with ten brand new members of the Dutch parliament). Owing to suspicions of financial malpractices, Otten was expelled from the party on 24 July 2019.[5] Otten immediately visited the media to speak out against the accusations, which he dismissed as defamation, slander. He claimed it was due to disagreements about the direction of the party. Otten also promised to make a declaration weigh defamation.[6] In Dutch news program *[Nieuwsuur](/source/Nieuwsuur),* Otten hinted at his further political aspirations with the possibility of establishing his own party for the first time. ### Founding of the Otten Group On 18 August 2019, Otten officially set up the new party. He was still looking for a suitable name for the party, but it would continue as *fractie-Otten* for the time being. Two members of the Senate, former party spokesman [Jeroen de Vries](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeroen_de_Vries_(politician)&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Dorien Rookmaker](/source/Dorien_Rookmaker), joined him because of the same dissatisfaction with the party's course. The three chose to keep their seats. There was even a possibility that the Otten Group could get a seat in the [European Parliament](/source/European_Parliament), as the seats in the parliament were redistributed after [Brexit](/source/Brexit). The number of seats of FvD then increased from three to four seats. As Rookmaker was fourth on the Forum's candidates list for the [2019 European Parliament election](/source/2019_European_Parliament_election), she still claimed the "Brexit seat" despite her canceled membership.[7] Rookmaker joined the European Parliament on 1 February 2020.[8] The situation in the provincial states was equally uneasy. Some members of the provincial states canceled their membership after expressing their dissatisfaction with the direction of FvD. Some even chose to join Otten's party, including [North Holland](/source/North_Holland) member of the states [Robert Baljeu](/source/Robert_Baljeu).[9] In an interview with the [NOS](/source/Nederlandse_Omroep_Stichting), Otten said that he was expecting more FvD members to join his party.[10] ## Policies and beliefs On its website and initial policy platform, Group Otten declared its main beliefs to be based on a “Triple-E” philosophy which stands for "Effective, Honest and Efficient" (*Effectief, Eerlijk en Efficiënt* in Dutch). The party called for more direct democracy, a smaller and less cumbersome but more focused government, and political transparency. It also stood for more rational politics over what it described as legislation created by "emotional debates" in the House of Representatives, and wished to prioritize the interests of Dutch citizens.[11] ## Representation ### Former members of the Senate - **[Henk Otten](/source/Henk_Otten)**, parliamentary leader (2019–2023) - [Jeroen de Vries](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeroen_de_Vries_(politician)&action=edit&redlink=1) (2019–2023) - [Dorien Rookmaker](/source/Dorien_Rookmaker) (2019–2020) - [Robert Baljeu](/source/Robert_Baljeu) (2020–2021) ### Former members of the European Parliament - Dorien Rookmaker (2020–2021) ### Former provincial council members - [Flevoland](/source/Flevoland): Cornelis van den Berg - [Groningen](/source/Groningen_(province)): Jeroen de Vries - [North Holland](/source/North_Holland): Robert Baljeu - [South Holland](/source/South_Holland): Caroline Persenaire ## See also - [Party for the Future](/source/Party_for_the_Future) - [JA21](/source/JA21) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Statuten GO"](https://go2021.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/statuten-go.pdf) (PDF). *GO Realisme & Daadkracht* (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 November 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Standpunten"](https://go2021.nl/standpunten/). *GO Realisme & Daadkracht* (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 December 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Koning, Petra de; Witt Wijnen, Philip de (19 April 2019). ["Tweede man van Forum Henk Otten: 'Baudet trekt de partij te veel naar rechts'"](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/04/19/tweede-man-van-forum-henk-otten-baudet-trekt-de-partij-te-veel-naar-rechts-a3957609). *[NRC](/source/NRC_Handelsblad)*. Retrieved 26 August 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["FvD: Otten deed 'greep in de kas' en moet uit partijbestuur"](https://nos.nl/artikel/2282028-fvd-otten-deed-greep-in-de-kas-en-moet-uit-partijbestuur.html). *[NOS](/source/Nederlandse_Omroep_Stichting)*. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Forum voor Democratie zet senator Henk Otten uit de partij"](https://nos.nl/artikel/2294940-forum-voor-democratie-zet-senator-henk-otten-uit-de-partij.html). *[NOS](/source/Nederlandse_Omroep_Stichting)*. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Henk Otten](/source/Henk_Otten) [@hendrikotten3] (25 July 2019). ["1. DRAADJE. Hierbij een draadje met een eerste korte inhoudelijke reactie op de beschuldigingen van FVD-bestuurders Baudet en Rooken van 24 juni jl. aan mijn adres"](https://twitter.com/hendrikotten3/status/1154294963473174534) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))) – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Partij GO van Henk Otten krijgt zetel in Europarlement"](https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/partij-go-van-henk-otten-krijgt-zetel-in-europarlement~ba347444/). *Trouw* (in Dutch). 6 February 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Drs. D. (Dorien) Rookmaker"](https://www.parlement.com/id/vkwqlts02tzp/d_dorien_rookmaker). *[Parlement.com](/source/Parlement.com)* (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 November 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Verstoten FvD-kopstuk Robert Baljeu: 'Succes is Baudet naar z'n bol gestegen'"](https://www.nporadio1.nl/politiek/18195-verstoten-fvd-kopstuk-robert-baljeu-succes-is-baudet-naar-z-n-bol-gestegen). *NPO Radio 1*. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Otten verwacht dat meer FvD'ers zich bij hem aansluiten"](https://nos.nl/artikel/2298104-otten-verwacht-dat-meer-fvd-ers-zich-bij-hem-aansluiten.html). *[NOS](/source/Nederlandse_Omroep_Stichting)*. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Standpunten - GO"](https://go2021.nl/standpunten/). ## External links - [Official website](https://go2021.nl/) v t e Defunct political parties in the Netherlands Only parties represented in parliament are shown. Catholic General League Roman Catholic People's Party Roman Catholic State Party Catholic People's Party Catholic National Party Political Party of Radicals Roman Catholic Party of the Netherlands Liberal Liberal Union Radical League Free-thinking Democratic League League of Free Liberals Liberal Party Economic League Middle Class Party Neutral Party Liberal State Party Freedom Party Party for the Future Reformed Anti-Revolutionary Party Christian Historical Voters' League Free Anti Revolutionary Party Christian Historical Party Frisian League Christian Historical Union League of Christian Socialists Christian Democratic Party Christian Social Party Christian Democratic Union Reformed Reformed State Party Reformed Political Alliance Reformatory Political Federation Evangelical People's Party Socialist Social Democratic League Social Democratic Workers' Party Socialist Party Pacifist Socialist Party Democratic Socialists '70 Other Alliance to Democratise the Forces Middle Party for City and Country New Middle Party Livable Netherlands Independent Citizens' Party Communist Communist Party of the Netherlands Communist Party of Holland – Central Committee Revolutionary Socialist Party Far-right Alliance for National Reconstruction National Socialist Movement Centre Party Centre Democrats Nationalist Peasants' League Farmers' Party Nederlandsche Unie Pim Fortuyn List Pensioners General Elderly Alliance Union 55+ --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Otten Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otten_Group) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otten_Group?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.