In the Netherlands it is neck and neck between the progressive socio-liberals of D66 (Democraten 66), led by the rising star Rob Jetten, and the right-wing nationalist and sovereignist party Pvv (Partij voor de Vrijheid, Party for Freedom) of Gert Wilders. With almost all votes counted (98.6%), the two political forces are both credited with winning 26 seats (out of 150) in Parliament. With one big difference: the D66 has almost tripled its seats and gains 17 compared to the 2023 elections, while the PVV has lost support and takes home 11 fewer (two years ago it won 37). It remains to be seen who will form the coalition to govern, which requires 76 seats, but there are signs of change. “Millions of Dutch people have turned the page. They have said goodbye to the politics of negativity, of hatred,” Jetten said celebrating the results. “We hoped for a different outcome, but we are more determined than ever”, comments Wilders. And on
Jetten could become the youngest prime minister ever
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However, the leaders of the main traditional parties have already ruled out wanting to govern with Wilders, after the PVV leader had pulled the plug on his own governing coalition in June, thus opening up this round of early elections. At the moment Jetten is therefore the favorite to form a government: 38 years old, born on 25 March 1987, he would be the youngest Dutch prime minister ever.
The results of the other parties
Not too far from D66 and Pvv three other parties. The first are the right-wing conservative liberals (Vvd, Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie) with 22 seats, led by Dilan Yesilgoz, Mark Rutte’s heir. Then the Labor-Green alliance led by Frans Timmermans, which stands at 20 seats, in line with estimates but down compared to the previous legislature: the father of the European Green Deal, already yesterday evening, immediately after the release of the first exit polls, announced his resignation from the leadership of the red-green front. The centrists of Henri Bontenbal’s Board of Directors – on whom many analysts had bet in recent weeks – recorded a significant comeback, going from five to 18 seats in two years (one less than in the exit polls), thus returning to being one of the key players in the new political balance. Behind them, the conservative right of JA21 (which sits in the ECR in Brussels) wins nine seats, up from the single seat in 2023, while the Eurosceptic populists of the Forum for Democracy (FVD) led by Thierry Baudet more than double their representation, reaching seven seats. The BBB peasant movement instead fell from seven to four seats. Scoring defeat for the centrist NSC party of Pieter Omtzigt, protagonist two years ago with 20 seats: today it disappears completely from the parliamentary scene.
Turnout is rising
Excellent turnout data. 78.4% was reached, a slight increase compared to the 77.8% recorded in 2023, according to what was released by the electoral service of the Dutch news agency Anpwhich corrects the first estimates that emerged after the exit polls, when participation appeared to be slightly decreasing to 76.3%. The turnout is therefore confirmed as among the highest in Europe: the recent record dates back to 2017, with 81.9%, while the lowest level was reached in 1998, with 73.3%. At a territorial level, the province of Utrecht recorded the highest participation (82.2%), while the lowest was in Flevoland (73.8%). However, the strong increase in blank ballots stands out, more than doubled compared to previous elections: from just over 19,000 in 2023 to over 39,500 this year, according to preliminary data from the PNA which will have to be validated by the Dutch Election Commission in the coming days.
