According to one forecast, the party of right-wing populist Geert Wilders emerged as the strongest force in the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. This was reported by Dutch television after the polls closed.
The election marks the beginning of a new political era after 13 years under right-wing liberal Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Its center-right coalition collapsed in the summer after less than 18 months due to the dispute over migration policy. Rutte then announced his departure from politics, but wants to remain in office until a new government alliance is formed.
But that could still take some time. After the last election in March 2021, it took almost ten months for Rutte to present his fourth cabinet. This time too, forming an alliance is considered difficult. Presumably, at least three parties will have to come together to form a coalition to achieve a majority.
Despite the strong result, it is unlikely that right-wing populist Wilders, 60, and his Freedom Party (PVV) will become the new head of government. Because hardly anyone wants to work together in a coalition under him.
Wilders was particularly mild during the election campaign. So he put his controversial views critical of Islam on hold. “It’s not a priority now,” he said. “I’m available as prime minister.” But his party program remains clear: The Freedom Party (PVV) calls for a ban on mosques and the Koran as well as “Nexit”, the Netherlands’ exit from the EU.
Dilan Yesilgöz ran for Rutte’s People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy. She wants to become the first woman to head the government in The Hague. She has not ruled out working with the right-wing extremist Wilders and, in the opinion of election observers, has thus made his PVV socially acceptable.
The Greens and Social Democrats absolutely wanted to prevent a shift to the right
In order to prevent Wilders and the feared shift to the right, the Social Democrats and the Greens ran together for the first time in the parliamentary election. They chose Frans Timmermans, 62, as their top candidate. The Social Democrat was the EU Commissioner for Climate Protection and, as Executive Vice President, number two in Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission.
The topics of the election campaign were migration, housing shortages and poverty. The right-wing parties in particular promised to drastically reduce the influx of migrant workers and refugees, but also of foreign students.
The election was overshadowed by a major crisis of confidence. Citizens attest to the state’s failures in migration, the health system, housing and social security. Former Christian Democrat Pieter Omtzigt, 49, and his “New Social Contract” (NSC) party campaigned for a new political leadership culture. He could play a crucial role in forming a government.