Netherlands General Election: Populist Geert Wilders wins

[-:Undertaker:-]

Populist party led by Geert Wilders wins Dutch General Election

Seat projections suggest a hefty 35 seats for the populist 'Party for Freedom' led by Wilders

Geert Wilders far-right, anti-Islam Party for Freedom (PVV) is on course to be the largest party in the Dutch parliament, according to exit polls, in a major electoral upset whose reverberations will be felt around Europe.

The PVV, whose manifesto includes calls for bans on mosques, the Quran and Islamic headscarves in government buildings, was predicted to win 35 seats in the 150-seat parliament, more than double the number it won in the previous 2021 ballot.

However, it is unclear whether Wilders, whose party has finished second and third in previous elections, but always been shut out of government will be able to win enough support to form a coalition with a working parliamentary majority.

35!!!!!!

PVV GROOTSTE PARTIJ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/oMANVYvGjy

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) November 22, 2023

Wilders, who has been under police protection since 2004 and in 2016 was convicted of discrimination after he called Moroccans scum at a campaign rally, is likely to start sounding other party leaders out on Friday.

Although the party that wins the most seats traditionally provides the next prime minister, it is by no means guaranteed to do so. Mark Rutte will remain in a caretaker role until a new government is installed, which might not be before next spring.

Tom van der Meer, a political scientist at the University of Amsterdam, described the result as the biggest shift we have ever seen in the Netherlands. Wilders had surged a wave of anti-immigration sentiment and frustration with cross-party coalitions, he told the public broadcaster NOS.

Superb news, I have always liked Wilders and admired him for his fearless criticism of Islam.

I suspect a populist wave is coming to Britain shortly...

[-:Undertaker:-]

Most votes now counted across Holland.

Geert Wilders (PVV) - in light blue below - won 37 seats in the end.