Sign in Subscribe
Political parties

Dutch Elections: Centrist D66 Party Makes Inroads as Wilders' Support Declines

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The centrist D66 party has surged in the Dutch elections, positioning itself to lead the next government's formation, while far-right leader Geert Wilders' party saw its support decline. As of Thursday morning, with 98% of ballots tallied, D66 and Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) were projected to secure 26 seats each in the 150-member lower house, with D66 holding a slender lead of 2,300 votes. This significant gain for D66 contrasts sharply with the PVV's decline from its 2023 record.

Key Takeaways:

  • D66 made substantial gains in the Dutch elections, nearly tripling its seat count and securing a projected 26 seats.
  • Geert Wilders' PVV party saw its support decline, dropping from its 2023 record, and secured 26 seats as well.
  • The election result appears to open a path for D66 leader Rob Jetten to form a government as the youngest-ever prime minister of the Netherlands.
  • Wilders has refused to accept the outcome, insisting that he would take the lead if the PVV ultimately came out on top.
  • Cheers and chants of 'Yes, we can' broke out at the D66 election night celebration, with Jetten saying "We've shown not only to the Netherlands, but also to the world that it is possible to beat populist and extreme-right movements."
  • The popularity of 38-year-old Jetten surged in the past month, as he campaigned on a promise to resolve a housing shortage, invest in education, and tackle immigration concerns.
  • Wilders has proposed denying all asylum requests, sending male Ukrainian refugees back to Ukraine, and halting development aid in order to finance energy and healthcare, measures that would violate EU treaties.

Statistics:

  • 98% of ballots totaled, with D66 and PVV projected to secure 26 seats each in the 150-member lower house.
  • D66 held a slender lead of 2,300 votes from approximately 10 million cast.
  • The PVV declined significantly from its 2023 record.
  • The Dutch election was seen as a test of whether the far-right can expand its reach or whether it has peaked in parts of Europe.

Sources:

  • Toby Sterling and Anthony Deutsch
  • Reuters

Read more