The FF+ at a Cross Road?

One of the main talking points surrounding the appointment of the cabinet is the appointment of Pieter Mulder (leader of the FF+) as a deputy minister by the President. This needs some analysis.

There is also a debate raging within the FF+ about Mulder's acceptance of the post. The result being their youth leader's suspension and a threat to disband their youth movement for criticising the move into government. From internal FF debates it is clear that there are two reasons why a big part of the FF+ wants to go this route.

Firstly, the FF+ reckons this position will give them an opportunity to obtain a sympathetic ear from the President and the ANC for issues key to them, including Afrikaner self-determination and recognition of Orania in line with the party's volkstaat (independent ethnic nation state) policy. The question is how they will act when their requests are met with a firm "no"?

They also reckon they will keep their independence and will be able to criticise government as an opposition party.

This last selling point seems impossible. Remember that Mulder today took an oath pledging allegiance to the government and acting in the interest of government. He can therefore not criticise govenment but will be expected, according to his oath, to defend the actions of government. Sure this does not exclude his party from criticising government, but in essence his party will be opposing him and criticising him when government fails on issues. This will inevitably lead to conflict in the FF.

Secondly, from these debates it is clear that many within the FF+ sees this position as a possible lifeline to a party that has consistently lost support in elections since 1999 and now standing at 0,83% of the total national vote. However, if they are unsuccessful in delivering on the expectations created of how they will sell their issues to government (i.e. the ANC) as mentioned in the first point, it will turn out a spectacular failure for them as a party and would spell the end of the FF+.

No matter what happens, the FF+ is unlikely to achieve any success with having its party leader acting as a deputy minister in the Zuma government. It is likely that the FF would lose more support and inevitably fail to exist. So this may after all be a move to secure a pension by Mulder as mentioned by Helen Zille.