THE HAGUE, Wednesday - The FNV union federation would be pleased if the Socialist Party (SP) sent a member to the Socio-Economic Council (SER). The SP itself however does not want this, it emerged during a debate organised by newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad, BNR Nieuwsradio and TV programme Nova.

The SER is an influential 33-member body in which unions, employer organisations and neutral members each have 11 seats. Since SER members Jacqueline Cramer (PvdA) and Ank Bijleveld (CDA) became ministers, two of the 11 neutral seats are vacant. The cabinet makes the nominations for the neutral members after a recommendation by the Social Affairs Minister.

FNV chairwoman Agnes Jongerius, herself a Labour (PvdA) party member, said during the debate on the future of the union movement: "I would consider it sensible for the voice of the SP, now an important voice in this country, also to be heard in the SER. About six weeks ago, I discussed this with SP leader Jan Marijnissen. But he said he was not planning to go lobbying" Social Affairs Minister Piet Hein Donner.

The SP recently became the third party in the Lower House, but is often criticised for deliberately not participating in administration because it would rather remain a protest party for now. SP MP Paul Ulenbelt more or less confirmed that picture. "The question is whether we have to go the same way as other parties. We are also not champing to appoint mayors. And you do not change the world with a couple of independent SER members."