Rob Jetten's centrist-liberal party D66 is in a neck-and-neck race with anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders in the Dutch election, according to almost complete results. With nearly 99% of votes counted, both D66 and Wilders' Freedom Party are projected to secure 26 seats in the 150-member parliament, as reported by Dutch news agency ANP.
Initial exit polls had placed Jetten in the lead, pointing to a significant political shift in the Netherlands. Millions of Dutch people have turned a page; they've said goodbye to a politics of negativity, Jetten expressed to his supporters. However, Wilders showed a more pessimistic attitude, conceding that the results were not what he had hoped for, declaring a loss of 11 seats, despite achieving his party's second-best result ever.
The competition became increasingly fierce as final results indicated a flip in the lead between the frontrunners. Following the last preliminary results from Amsterdam, Jetten's party surged ahead by more than 15,000 votes. Both parties hovered below 17% of the national vote, with the conservative-liberal VVD and other left-wing factions closely trailing behind.
Throughout the campaign, Wilders had consistently led in polls but faced backlash after withdrawing his support from a previous coalition due to disagreements related to asylum and migration. Recognizing his struggles, he noted that the reality of coalition-building was daunting, yet he insisted that he deserved the first chance to form a government if his party secured a majority.
Despite the tough opposition, Rob Jetten's vibrant campaign sought to resonate with Dutch voters frustrated by two years of stagnation, highlighted by critical issues such as the severe housing shortage affecting approximately 400,000 homes. While celebrating his party's unlikely success, Jetten made known his intent for a coalition that would be both stable and ambitious, considering partnerships with other significant parties such as the Labour-GreenLeft coalition.
This election’s results indicate a newfound willingness among Dutch voters to shift away from older political figures, as demonstrated by the disappointment of other political leaders like Frans Timmermans of the left-wing party, who announced his resignation amidst dwindling support.
The energy in Jetten's camp contrasted sharply with the survivalist rhetoric of Wilders, who assured his supporters, You won't be rid of me until I'm 80. This election emphasized the driving forces behind voter sentiment, with a collective desire for fresh perspectives on pressing national issues.
