Decency Politics Beats Populism

The Dutch CDA is rebounding by centering 'fatsoen'—fairness, integrity, order, solidarity, and kindness—while offering a firm‑but‑not‑cruel migration stance (e.g., rejecting a proposal that would criminalize giving soup to undocumented people). Polls suggest a jump from 5 to about 25 seats ahead of the Oct. 29 election as PVV bleeds support and JA21 splits the far‑right vote. This reframes national identity not against outsiders but around inclusive Christian democracy ('quiet c'). — It offers a replicable centrist playbook—values‑first framing and non‑punitive border policy—that may blunt far‑right momentum in coalition systems.