Veteran anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has won a dramatic victory in the Dutch general election, with almost all votes counted.
His PVV (Freedom Party) won 37 seats in parliament, more than doubling his share from the last election and outstripping opponents, according to near complete results.
A left-wing bloc trailed far behind on 25 seats, with the centre-right VVD on 24, a catastrophic result for the party of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The surprise win by Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) will be another boost for U.S. conservatives who saw Sunday’s Argentina presidential election win of self-described “anarcho-capitalist” Javier Milei as evidence that Trumpian populism is alive and well.
Wilders, 60, now has the daunting task of trying to form a working coalition, courting rivals that categorically ruled out serving in a PVV-led government before the vote.
“The PVV can no longer be ignored,” Wilders said. “We will govern.”
The unexpected landslide win prompted immediate congratulations from fellow far-right leaders in France and Hungary but will likely raise fears in Brussels — Wilders is anti-EU and wants a vote on a “Nexit” to leave the bloc.
Wilders PVV needs 76 seats to for a majority in the 150-seat parliament which seems difficult as the three other big parties ruled out taking part in a Wilders-led government because of his far-right policies. But that might change because of the scale of his victory.
The left-wing alliance (Green/Labour bloc) under ex-EU commissioner Frans Timmermans won comes second by winning 25 seats.
Timmermans made clear he would have nothing to do with a Wilders-led government, promising to defend Dutch democracy and rule of law. “We won’t let anyone in the Netherlands go. In the Netherlands everyone is equal,” he told supporters.
Leaving 3rd-placed centre-right liberal VVD (24 seats) under new leader Dilan Yesilgöz, and a brand new party formed by whistleblower MP Pieter Omtzigt in 4th (20 seats).
Dilan Yesilgoz (VVD) on election night said Wilders would have to see if he can forge a coalition.
Anti-corruption champion Pieter Omtzigt indicated he was “available” for talks, admitting they wouldn’t be easy.
Among smaller parties, the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) said it would be willing to govern with Wilders. Its seven seats in the lower house of parliament would not be needed for a majority there, but it holds a large number of seats in the senate, which has the power to block legislation.
The Dutch are no strangers to long talks to build a coalition. Last time, the process took a record-breaking 299 days.
