During the reclamation of Flevoland from the IJsselmeer between 1940 and 1986, there were also plans in 1976 to drain the newly formed Markermeer and create the province of Markerwaard. The overambitious fascists initially approved, but as the government became preoccupied with the political and civil problems of the 1980s, the project was canceled. Successive government formations, including the current, did not have official stances on the matter, although most people dislike the idea of the IJsselmeer disappearing and the population increasing even more.