An amendment to this effect was adopted at the electoral conference of the leftist formation by a narrow majority (more than 52 percent voted in favor of it).

Advocates of the amendment described the monarchy and the principle of hereditary succession that comes with it as “an outdated system of inequality.” They also pointed to the many millions that go to the royal family every year. This money would have been better off going to the people who need it most, an argument that has been made often.

Others pointed to the late Prince Bernhard’s Nazi past or to the colonial past to which the Oranges owe a large part of their wealth, according to a recent study. Also included is the beer that King Willem-Alexander drank with Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Opponents of the proposal stressed the importance of history and the symbolic function performed by the royal family. It was also warned that a republic would not be a solution either. “Then we would have had President Rutte for the last 12 years,” he said.

The authors of the election manifesto advised against the amendment. They believed that existing proposals, under which King Willem-Alexander would receive a purely ceremonial status and would also have to pay taxes, went too far.

Other proposals to push the electoral platform further left than the party leadership wanted, such as eliminating the deductible in health insurance and providing an unconditional basic income for all, were not successful. An amendment regarding free public transportation was also voted down.