“Political earthquake” in the Dutch elections

Dutch public service Describes NOS She described the result of the new elections that took place on Wednesday as a “political earthquake.” The day before the parliamentary elections, the National Freedom Party was estimated, in an opinion poll, to have won 27 of the 150 seats. when Almost all votes have been counted However, the party gained 37 seats, more than double the support it received in the last election in 2021. The party received new voters mainly from former Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s liberal conservative VVD party and from people who had not previously voted. However, increasing support also comes from many other parties, Shows polling station scan.

Congratulations from right-wing nationalists in Europe did not take long.

“The winds of change are blowing” chirp Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán performs with a clip of German Scorpion’s song, which many associate with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Former French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen sees the result as an opportunity to bring about changes in the European Union.

“Congratulations to the Freedom Party and the Freedom Party on their amazing results in the parliamentary elections, which underscore the growing commitment to defending national identities. And because there are people who refuse to see the national flame extinguished, hope for change remains strong in Europe,” chirp Le Pen.

Even from Italy’s equivalent Freedom Party, the result is seen as an opportunity to change the EU.

“Congratulations to friend Geert Wilders […] For this extraordinary electoral victory. A new Europe is possible.” chirp Italian League leader Matteo Salvini.

The Freedom Party wants, among other things, to close the borders and not accept any asylum seekers. However, Wilders is said to have downplayed his anti-Islamist rhetoric, which according to him NRC Handelsblad newspaper It is open to more Dutch people than ever before.

The newspaper wrote in its analysis: “In interviews, he has shown a more moderate version of himself and indicated that he may be ready to shelve his anti-Islamist proposals, such as banning the mosque and the Qur’an.”

No majority

Geert Wilders has expressed his desire to become Prime Minister. However, with 37 seats out of 150, equivalent to 25%, in the Dutch House of Representatives, he should receive support from other parties.

The assessment according to NOS is that Wilders gets the first opportunity to try to form the basis of a government. He is expected to seek support from the liberal-conservative VVD and the Christian Democratic National Security Council, among others. However, their party leaders have previously rejected government cooperation with the Freedom Party.

The four parties in the outgoing government – the liberal-conservative VVD, the Christian Democratic CDA, the Christian Democratic CU and the social liberal D66 – fell from 78 to 38 seats in Wednesday’s new elections.

A total of 15 parties will enter the House of Commons.

The second largest party is the red-green coalition PvdA/GL with 25 seats, equivalent to approximately 15 percent of the vote. The coalition leader, former European Union Commissioner Frans Timmermans, is expected to get a second chance to form a government if Geert Wilders fails.

Forming a government after parliamentary elections is often a long-term process in the Netherlands. The latter two took 299 and 225 days, respectively. But compared to neighboring Belgium, it is relatively quick, as the last formation of the government took 494 days