“We are the biggest party in the Netherlands! Now we’ll get to work for all Dutch people,” D66 leader Rob Jetten declared on social media Friday.
“I think we’ve now shown the rest of Europe and the world that it is possible to beat populist movements if you campaign with a positive message for your country,” Jetten added.
### D66 and PVV Neck-and-Neck in Election
In Wednesday’s election, D66 and the Party for Freedom (PVV) finished neck-and-neck, with both parties expected to secure 26 seats in the Dutch parliament. Jetten had earlier expressed caution, saying D66 was “waiting in suspense for the definitive result” due to the extremely narrow polls. However, after media outlets began projecting his victory, his stance appeared to change.
National news agency ANP reported that D66 edged out the Party for Freedom by a narrow margin of 15,000 votes and projected that the party would gain an additional seat. The official binding results will be released by the nation’s Electoral Council no earlier than Monday.
### Historic Milestone for the Netherlands
If confirmed, the 38-year-old former consultant would become the Netherlands’ youngest-ever prime minister and the first openly gay person to lead the national government.
“The positive forces have won!” Jetten declared regarding D66’s significant gains. “I want to get to work for all Dutch people because this is the land of us all!”
### Party for Freedom Responds
The Party for Freedom, led by lawmaker Geert Wilders, experienced a marked decline from its first-place finish in the 2023 elections. Wilders rebuked Jetten’s declaration of victory, emphasizing the importance of waiting for the official announcement.
“What arrogance not to wait for that!” Wilders said. He continued, “But even if D66 becomes the largest, the PVV will not let the Netherlands be dismantled by Jetten and his ilk and will oppose his left-liberal mismanagement with full force from day one, 26 seats strong!”
Wilders established the PVV such that he is the only registered member, allowing candidates who win seats to act as lawmakers while Wilders retains sole control of the party’s platform.
### Significant Decline for PVV
Regardless of whether D66 is officially declared the largest party, the election results highlight a marked drop in support for the PVV. Earlier projections in September showed PVV candidates winning 33 seats out of the 150-seat legislature.
The PVV triggered this week’s election after leaving a fragile governing coalition in June due to disagreements over asylum application and family reunification freezes. The PVV was the largest party in the coalition, but other parties refused to join if Wilders were to lead the government.
### Impact of Teenager’s Murder on Election
Support for the right-wing PVV, known for its vocal anti-immigration stance and skepticism of Islam, surged months ago following the high-profile murder of a 17-year-old girl named Lisa in Amsterdam.
Lisa was reportedly cycling home after a night out when she was fatally stabbed by a 22-year-old asylum seeker. Reports say she was stabbed multiple times in the neck as she attempted to call authorities. Emergency responders arrived too late, finding her deceased. The suspect, a resident of the city’s Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers facility, has been arrested and is also believed to have attacked and sexually assaulted another woman in Amsterdam just five days earlier. His identity remains undisclosed pending trial, in line with Dutch law.
### D66’s Migration Platform
D66’s platform proposes continuing current migration policies with a stronger emphasis on fairness for arriving immigrants.
“We want asylum procedures to be fast and fair, and our reception facilities to be humane and fairly distributed across the country,” their platform states. “We will also support the implementation of the European Migration Pact in June 2026 as an important step toward a fair, humane, and effective asylum system across Europe. Newcomers should have the opportunity to work as soon as possible or pursue an education.”
### Uneasy Coalition Prospects
Forming a coalition government will prove challenging due to the diverse range of parties in the legislature.
The center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) avoided catastrophic losses, losing just two seats and placing third.
In contrast, the GreenLeft-Labor alliance suffered setbacks, dropping five seats to finish fourth. Following the underperformance, leader Frans Timmermans resigned on Wednesday.
### Gains for Christian Democrat Alliance and Smaller Right-Wing Parties
Although the Christian Democrat Alliance did not surpass any of the largest parties, it made significant strides, increasing its seats from five to 18, bringing it close to the GreenLeft-Labor and VVD.
Many of the votes lost by the PVV migrated to smaller right-wing parties, including JA21—a movement focused on curbing migration and increasing police funding—which secured an impressive eight seats.
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This election highlights shifting political landscapes in the Netherlands, reflecting broader European trends in immigration policy debates and the rise and fall of populist movements. As the final results await confirmation, all eyes remain on the evolving coalition negotiations and the direction of Dutch governance in the months ahead.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/3870838/dutch-centrists-declare-victory-netherlands-election-right-wing-calls-it-arrogance/
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