One reason is media consistently referred to the kidnappings as "the scandal" without explaining much of what actually happened to people (especially on evening

One reason is media consistently referred to the kidnappings as "the scandal" without explaining much of what actually happened to people (especially on evening news). Another reason is that the majority of Dutch culture/society treats the state-sponsored "independent" media as a church of truth. The majority doesn't question them and all the media did (on purpose?) by repeatedly talking about "the scandal" superficially is just make people tired of hearing about it without knowing what it's actually about. I think this lays at the core of why they where re-elected (for the 3rd or 4th time).