A new parliament will be elected in the Netherlands on Wednesday. About 13.3 million people can elect 150 representatives. According to the latest polls, a neck-and-neck race is expected.
For the first time, right-wing populist Geert Wilders (60) and his Party for Freedom could become the strongest force. According to the surveys, the right-liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is at approximately the same level. Their top candidate Dilan Yesilgöz (46) wants to be the successor to her party colleague Mark Rutte and the first woman to head the Dutch government. The red-green electoral alliance of the Social Democrats and the Greens with top candidate and former EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans (62) also has a chance.
Three parties are probably needed for a majority
It is considered unlikely that any party will receive more than 20 percent of the vote. A majority will probably require a coalition of at least three parties. Polling stations are open on Wednesday from 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM. The results of the voter surveys will be announced immediately afterwards.
Housing was now an important issue in the election campaign. Many Dutch people are concerned that there is not enough affordable housing (see video above).
Long process
The parliamentary elections became necessary after the centre-right coalition collapsed in the summer after just eighteen months in office. The reason was a dispute over migration policy. Prime Minister Rutte then announced that he would leave Dutch politics. He has been Prime Minister for about thirteen years and wants to remain in office until a new government takes office. Experience shows that it can take a long time in the Netherlands before a government is formed: the last one only came into being after 271 days.
Source: Krone
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