The RKPN was founded by former members of the Catholic People's Party who were upset with what they saw as the liberal course of their party. In the 1972 general election, the party won one seat, which was taken by party chairKlaas Beuker. In 1974, a conflict between Beuker and the party board caused him to continue as an independent MP. The party unsuccessfully contested the 1977 general election.[2]
Ideology and issues
The RKPN was a Traditionalist Catholic testimonial party in contrast to the pragmatic and liberal course of the Catholic People's Party. The party took the Ten Commandments as their main perspective and followed the conservative course of Pope Paul VI.
This table shows the RKPN's results in elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, as well as the party's political leadership: the parliamentary leader and the lead candidate in general elections; these posts are normally taken by the party's leader.
The party was mainly supported by Catholics who followed more conservative bishops like Adrianus Johannes Simonis.
International comparison
Domestically, the RKPN as a testimonial party can best be compared to the orthodox Protestant Reformed Political Party. Internationally, it is comparable to small Traditionalist Catholic parties like the Irish Christian Solidarity Party.
![Azure, billetty Or a lion with a coronet Or armed and langued Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Argent hilted Or and in the sinister paw seven arrows Argent pointed and bound together Or. [The seven arrows stand for the seven provinces of the Union of Utrecht.] The shield is crowned with the (Dutch) royal crown and supported by two lions Or armed and langued gules. They stand on a scroll Azure with the text (Or) "Je Maintiendrai" (French for "I will maintain".)](File:State_coat_of_arms_of_the_Netherlands.svg)
