With 98.1% of ballots counted, both D66 and PVV received 16.7% of the vote, according to the official tally cited by public broadcaster NOS.
Wilders, known for his anti-Islam views, led his party to a surprise victory in 2023. Last June, he withdrew from the ruling coalition after his partners refused to accept his plan to crack down on immigration, triggering the new election. Wilders’ 10-point proposal included turning away all asylum seekers, closing shelters, suspending family reunifications, and deploying the army to patrol the borders.
After exit polls published late on Wednesday suggested a slight lead for D66, Wilders said he had hoped “for a different outcome” and vowed to “fight more than ever.”
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