Pro-EU centrist party D66 is on course to win with four rival parties close behind
Exit polls suggest that the pro-EU centrist party D66 is set to win the Dutch national election, with four rival parties closely trailing behind. The poll indicates that D66 could secure 27 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament, outperforming the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) which is projected to win 25 seats. The margin of error for the poll is up to three seats, highlighting the intense competition between the major parties.
With the potential win, D66 leader Rob Jetten could become the Netherlands’ youngest and first openly gay prime minister, a development that underscores the party’s progressive stance. The election, held in the wake of the previous government’s collapse, is seen as a critical turning point for Dutch politics.
The election was called following the collapse of the government this summer, which was triggered by the PVV’s withdrawal from the coalition. The PVV, led by Geert Wilders, had previously advocated for a strict migration policy, which their partners failed to support, leading to the breakdown of the coalition.
The current race is also marked by the presence of other key parties, including the GreenLeft-Labour alliance, which is showing similar performance in the latest opinion polls. Over half of the country’s voters remain undecided on whom to support, with multiple surveys indicating a split in voter preferences.
Adding to the complexity, the country’s data protection watchdog has warned against relying on AI chatbots for voting advice, as they can provide a misleading and polarized view of politics. Monique Verdier, deputy chair of the watchdog, emphasized that these tools lack transparency and verifiability, which could affect the integrity of the elections.
As the election approaches, the race for the Dutch vote is shaping up to be one of the most significant in recent history, with implications for the direction of the Netherlands and its relationship with the European Union.