Shock win for Geert Wilders in Dutch election
The results are in, and the projections are nothing short of shocking in the Dutch election. Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam and euroskeptic radical, is projected to be the surprise winner of the election. His Freedom Party (PVV) is set to win around 35 of the 150 seats in parliament, more than double the number it won in the 2021 election, according to an initial exit poll.
This will put the Netherlands on track for a potential dramatic shift in direction, as Wilders is expected to emerge as the largest party. However, he lacks an overall majority in parliament, leaving the question of whether any other parties will join him to form a coalition government.
Wilders greeted his supporters with a big smile, stating, “The voters have spoken tonight and they have said that they are fed up.” He pledged to put Dutch voters first, work towards curbing the “asylum tsunami,” and focus on better security and putting more money in people’s wallets. However, his strong anti-Islam rhetoric is still a major part of the PVV’s platform.
Despite his unexpected win, it is unlikely that Wilders will become prime minister, as other party leaders have ruled out supporting him. The political scientist Tom van der Meer called the exit poll historic, as Wilders’ win represents the biggest shift ever seen in the Netherlands. The unexpected result is attributed to the desire for a change after 11 years of a center cabinet and the prominence of migration as a key issue.
The election night party for Wilders’ PVV was held in a small cafe in Scheveningen, a beach town next to The Hague. Meanwhile, the Labor-Green alliance led by Frans Timmermans is holding its party in Amsterdam, with Wilders’ win causing a stir at the venue.
The story is still developing as the unexpected results continue to reverberate throughout the country. This story is being updated as more information becomes available.