Get to know My Vote Counts The Citizens Initiative

My Vote Counts! The Citizens’ Initiative

We are My Vote Counts! The Citizens’ Initiative, a new political party that puts decisive power back in the hands of the citizen. My Vote Counts! The Citizens’ Initiative is going all-in for the democratic, binding citizens’ referendum instead of the current parliamentary democracy.

Every vote counts

My Vote Counts! The Citizens’ Initiative wants to move toward a society in which every voice is heard, in which every vote counts and matters. Citizens must once again recognize what actually happens with their vote. Together we are building a future in which your voice is taken into account and in which minority positions are protected. Humanistic ethics is the basis for our actions in this. People are central to us, with “hands off” and care for the “weaker” as our core principles.

At My Vote Counts! The Citizens’ Initiative, people are central, and we also keep an eye on the weaker members of our society.

Why a binding citizens’ referendum?

Our current political system no longer works. During elections, political parties promise all sorts of things, but once it’s time to govern, the positions from the various election manifestos are barely recognizable anymore. In the Netherlands you can only govern with multiple parties if you are willing to compromise. As a result, the major problems of today and the future are barely being solved. As a result, many citizens are dissatisfied, and the gap between citizens and politics has never been greater.

According to the October 2023 research paper by the I&O Research center, 58% of citizens in the Netherlands are in favor of a binding citizens’ referendum.

It’s time for a shift toward a politics in which citizens recognize themselves and which offers a solution to the major problems of our time.

Decision-making power for the citizen

So it has to be different! My Vote Counts! The Citizens’ Initiative wants to give decision-making power and authority back to citizens in a peaceful, democratic way. That’s why we founded ‘My Vote Counts!’ The Citizens’ Initiative, with the main goal of introducing a democratic, binding citizens’ referendum system in place of the current parliamentary democracy.

Introducing a binding referendum into the Constitution requires a majority twice, in the House of Representatives and the Senate, across successive cabinets.

Constitutional amendment necessary

This won’t happen without a struggle, since the Constitution needs to be amended for it. We are convinced that this will succeed, since current politics keeps showing, time and again, that it has no solution for today’s problems.

The binding referendum in practice and in the future

We realize that introducing a binding referendum takes time. To introduce the binding referendum, the Constitution needs to be amended. That can only happen if two successive cabinets vote in favor of it with the required majority. We can only achieve the introduction of the binding referendum by taking part in the current political system. Once we reach our main goal — namely, anchoring the binding referendum in the Constitution — we will dissolve our party.

Future visions for public utilities, healthcare, and crisis relief are urgently needed.

Future visions needed

Through research we want to find out what the majority of citizens in the Netherlands stand for. This does not mean, however, that we automatically side with the opinion of the majority of the population.

Distribution problems in the future

We already foresee many ‘distribution problems’ in the near future, partly caused by ‘new’ technologies such as quantum computers, self-learning AI, and robots. They will make a very large number of our jobs redundant. Who will benefit from this? Who will suffer because of it? According to My Vote Counts! The Citizens’ Initiative, direct, joint action is urgently needed to be prepared and ready for our future.

Private behavior and behavior in public spaces

The party will also further explain its views on citizens’ behavior in both private and public spaces, including the principle of “hands off,” which will play an important role in public binding referendums.”

Elections

We stand for a binding citizens’ referendum in local, provincial, national, and European politics alike.

Founder of My Vote Counts! The Citizens’ Initiative

Bernard Guijt is the founder of My Vote Counts! He is a social historian of policy and governance. He is also an economic and social-historical researcher. Bernard has worked and been active in the field of policy and governance for many years.

He is concerned that democracies are becoming less and less democratic, which only widens the gap between politics and citizens. In his view, a political system based on binding referendums is the only way to put a stop to this and to place power over political decision-making back with the citizen.