Netherlands centrist party wins big in election as far right loses support

In light of the voter haemorrhage caused by the far-right Freedom Party (PVV)’s (PVV) rout, the centre-left D66 party has benefited significantly in the Netherlands’ general election. It is likely to be in charge of negotiations for a government formation.

D66 and PVV were both expected to win 26 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament after the vote was counted on Thursday morning.

The results marked a sharp decline for PVV leader Geert Wilders, sometimes referred to as the “Dutch Trump,” from a 2023 record, while D66 made the biggest gains and almost tripled its seats.

The progressive D66 was ineligible in exit polls, and Wilders, 62, was in second place in early results. However, counting results indicated that Wilders had performed slightly better.

Given that all major parties have decided against joining him in government, whatever the outcome, Wilders is almost certain not to be the prime minister.

Wilders acknowledged that he would likely not be a part of the next government on Wednesday night, saying he was disappointed that his party had lost seats. But he made the commitment to continue fighting against the opposition.

He said, “Of course, we would have liked to win more seats, and I regret the loss, but it doesn’t seem like we were wiped off the map,” of course.

Farewell to hate-filled politics.

Instead, D66 leader Rob Jetten, 38, will have the opportunity to form a government as the nation’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister.

As the crowd waved the Dutch flags during the D66 election night celebration, “Yes, we can” screamed and “Yes, we can.”

We’ve demonstrated to the world that populist and extreme right movements can be defeated, Jetten said.

“Millions of Dutch people turned a page today and bid adieu to the politics of hate, resentment, and never-ending “No we can’t.”

Jetten campaigned on a promise to address housing shortage, invest in education, and address immigration issues, and his popularity rose in the previous month.

One of Europe’s longest-serving populist leaders, Wilders, is renowned for his vehement anti-Muslim beliefs and lives in constant protection from death threats. He had suggested halting development aid in order to finance energy and healthcare, sending male Ukrainian refugees back to their wartorn country, and rejecting all asylum requests, which would violate EU treaties.

Wilders founded an all-conservative coalition after his partners objected to him becoming prime minister despite his party’s astonishing first-place finish in the last election in 2023. In June, he overrode the government because it refused to abide by his strictures.

The outcome of the Dutch election suggested that its appeal has been constrained by its potential expansion or whether it has reached its peak in some parts of Europe.

At least four parties will be required to form a governing coalition in the Netherlands’ parliament, with 76 seats required. A pact between D66, the Greens-Labour party, the center-right VVD, and the conservative Christian Democrats might be a possible solution.