The Netherlands voted Wednesday in a pivotal national election that will determine whether the country doubles down on the anti-immigration populism of Geert Wilders or shifts back toward centrist politics. Two exit polls had the centrist D66 party narrowly ahead, with Wilders saying that he had "hoped for a different result".
Dutch voters cast their ballots Wednesday in avote offering a choice between doubling down on the anti-immigrationnationalismof populistGeert Wilders, whosank the last conservative coalitionafter a fractious two years, or a return to the centre.
The centrist D66 party was on course to win most votes, exit polls showed on Wednesday, opening a path for the energetic leader Rob Jetten to become theNetherlands' youngest and first openly gay prime minister.
Two exit polls projected D66 to win 27 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament, beating Wilders' Freedom Party with 25. The polls have a margin of error of up to three seats.
"We had hoped for a different result," Wilders said in a social media post. "We are more determined than ever."
With nationalist parties topping polls inBritain,FranceandGermany, the Dutch vote was a test of whetherpopulismcan expand its reach or whether it has peaked in parts of Europe.
Only two years ago, Wilders led his party to a stunning first-place finish in the 2023 election and formed anall-conservative coalitionalthough his partners refused to endorse him as prime minister. He brought it down in June over its refusal to adopt hardline, anti-refugee measures.
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Tough coalition talks lie ahead
Dutch elections have become increasingly unpredictable, and building stable coalitions is a fraught task that can take weeks or months.
Opinion polls showed nearly half the electorate was still undecided days ahead of the vote.
Wilders, one of Europes longest-serving populist leaders, is renowned for hisanti-Islamstance and lives under constant protection due to death threats. He proposes saving funds by denying all asylum requests which would violate EU treaties sending male Ukrainian refugees back toUkraine, and halting development aid to finance energy and healthcare benefits.
In Volendam, a fishing town near Amsterdam and a Wilders stronghold, some locals are sticking with him even after the last government with his pick for prime minister failed to deliver the EUs toughestimmigrationregime or address an acute housing shortage.
We need to be able to take care of ourselves, and thats why Im voting for PVV. Our own people first, said Jaap Schilder, 40, a fish shop owner and local politician.
The PVV has seen some of its support siphoned away by the Christian Democrats, whose new leader Henri Bontenbal is campaigning on a pledge of government stability and traditional values.
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Wilders' support ebbing
Analysts say that Wilders ebbing support reflects voter frustration over chaotic infighting in the last coalition. His gushing praise of US President Donald Trumps leadership and the US presidents perceived willingness to test the limits of American democracy also unsettles some voters.
I wouldnt sleep well at night, said Greta Blakborn, a Volendam pensioner active in the local LabourGreen Left chapter, of a potential Wilders win.
The stated refusal of mainstream parties to enter into an alliance with Wilders may have given rise to tactical voting in favour of other conservative parties, political analysts said.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
Originally published on France24
