The Netherlands, for example, has one of Europe’s worst housing crises, with a shortage of 400,000 homes, rampant house prices, and a growing population. It has now appointed an Irish woman as housing minister. Her model also requires asking the people to give up a little for the sake of the wider community. Suddenly, the strong polling of the party ahead of the presidential election doesn’t look as watertight as it had appeared. Seen as a trend, these events show it is not all doom and gloom for centrist and left-leaning governments everywhere.

Source: Irish Examiner March 30, 2026 00:07 UTC