AMSTERDAM, 01/09/06 - The Socialist Party (SP) is seeking a more realistic course. In its election manifesto presented yesterday, the SP accepts Dutch membership of NATO and is also no longer seeking the reintroduction of the guilder as the national currency.

"In our electoral programme, we now accept the political fact that the Netherlands is a NATO member", said SP leader Jan Marijnissen. "We have adjusted our position to the facts of reality. We are an adult party." The SP also accepts the euro, but it remains EU-sceptical.

The SP, allocated 13 to 20 Lower House seats in recent polls, does remain an idealistic party on many points. It wants binding referenda that can be called by the population. Voters should also be able to force the cabinet to resign via a referendum.

The former communist party wants welfare benefits to be raised by 10 percent and child allowance hiked for the jobless and low-income groups. Those finding a job should get a bonus to prevent not working being more rewarding than working. The state pension (AOW) age should be kept at 65 and taxing AOW recipients, as proposed by Labour (PvdA), is not necessary for the SP. Childcare should be free.

The party also wants free public transport for over-65s and a public broadcasting system without commercials. Mayors should be elected by local councils, which should hand over part of their tasks to 'neighbourhood councils'. Politicians should be able to simultaneously be MPs and MEPs, as in the past.

The SP wants tougher sentences for discrimination. Internet sites inciting hatred should be closed down and schools must teach pupils to respect each other's culture. Schoolchildren should have a say in how their school is run. Philosophy must be taught in secondary education, which must also include a six-month period of social activities. Youths under 23 must either work or go to school.

SP deviates from some leftwing dogmas on integration. Immigrants must be forced in the party's view to learn Dutch if they are jobless. As well, more funds should be allocated to shelter political asylum-seekers in countries neighbouring the conflict area. On the other hand, asylum-seekers centres in the Netherlands must be more luxurious and asylum-seekers allowed to do paid work.

Instead of opposing NATO, the SP now wishes to give the organisation a more peaceful character. On the EU, the SP says contributions to the Union must not increase and the Dutch 'no' to the EU constitution respected. Proposals for EU enlargement should be put forward to the Dutch population in a referendum. The development aid budget must be raised and the debts of the poorest counties cancelled.