rechtse

Rechtse is a Dutch attributive adjective meaning “right-wing” or “situated on the right side.” It is used to describe political actors, ideologies, or attitudes that favor conservative or right-leaning positions, and can also indicate something located on the right-hand side of a physical or figurative spectrum.

In Dutch, the form rechtse is used when the noun it modifies is definite or in certain grammatical contexts. Common examples include de rechtse partij, de rechtse partijen, and een rechtse positie. The term is related to rechts, which more broadly appears as an adverb or noun meaning “the right” or “the right-wing.”

In political discourse, rechtse is frequently employed to refer to right-wing parties or policies, including topics such as immigration, taxation, and national identity. It is often contrasted with links (the left) and centrum (the centre). Phrases such as rechtse stroming or rechtse richting are used in academic writing to describe right-leaning currents within a party or country.

The term should be used neutrally, carrying no inherent moral valence beyond the positions it describes. It can be combined with other qualifiers, such as liberale, nationalistisch, or populistisch, to specify subcategories within the right.