Editing Reformed Political Party (section)

===1922–1945===
For the [[1922 Dutch general election|1922 general election]], Kersten was [[lead candidate]], accepting objections within his electorate. The party won one seat in the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]], which was taken by Kersten. His speeches in parliament regularly received media attention, for example when he opposed the [[1928 Summer Olympics]] in Amsterdam. In the [[1925 Dutch general election|1925 general election]], the party won another seat which was taken by [[Pieter Zandt]].{{sfn|Vollaard|Voerman|2018|pp=31-33}}

Later that year, the [[Anti-Catholicism|anti-Catholic]] SGP would cause the fall of the [[second Ruijs de Beerenbrouck cabinet]] in what became known as the [[Night of Kersten]] ({{langx|nl|Nacht van Kersten}}). During the debate on the budget of the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)|Foreign Affairs Ministry]], Kersten had proposed cutting the budget of the [[diplomatic mission of the Netherlands to the Holy See]]. The amendment received a majority, because it was supported by the Protestant [[Christian Historical Union]] (CHU), which was in cabinet together with the Catholic General League. It resulted in more publicity and a third seat in the [[1929 Dutch general election|1929 general election]], which was taken by {{ill|Cor van Dis sr.|nl}}.{{sfn|Vollaard|Voerman|2018|pp=31-33}} Kersten, Zandt and Van Dis formed the parliamentary group until the [[1929 Dutch general election|1937 general election]], when the SGP lost one seat. The SGP did not achieve much in parliament other than during the Night of Kersten, but achieved some smaller goals outside of parliament through contact with the ministers.{{sfn|Vollaard|Voerman|2018|pp=36-38}}

Kersten saw the [[German invasion of the Netherlands]] in 1940 as a punishment for its sins. He rejected [[Dutch resistance|resistance]] against the [[Netherlands in World War II|German occupation]] and was seen as friendly towards them. After the war, he was nominated again as lead candidate, but he was barred from the House of Representatives for his stances during the war.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trouw.nl/binnenland/veel-erger-nog-dan-hitler-vond-sgp-er-kersten-waren-de-roomsen~b23f1758/|title=Veel erger nog dan Hitler, vond SGP'er Kersten, waren de Roomsen|work=[[Trouw]]|access-date=17 August 2024|language=nl|first=Paul|last=Van der Steen|date=12 November 2021}}</ref>