16 h. ago The Guardian view on the Dutch election: an uplifting victory for the politics of hope not hate | Editorial

Targeting the negativity of the far right, the big winner of last week’s poll was able to cut through with votersOne of the tightest elections in Dutch history produced an outcome so close that first steps in negotiating a new coalition government have yet to begin. But at a time when the forward march of the far right across Europe is dominating headlines, sapping the confidence of mainstream parties, one uplifting takeaway was immediately clear: a less divisive kind of politics can still cut through with the public, if it is prosecuted with conviction and panache.The big and unexpected winner of last week’s poll was 38-year-old Rob Jetten, the charismatic leader of the centrist liberal party D66, which almost tripled its vote and is set to top the polls by a whisker. Basing his campaign on the Obama-style slogan “Yes we can”, Mr Jetten presented himself as an optimistic unifier to an electorate exhausted by the polarising politics of Geert Wilders, whose anti-i...

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27 h. ago Dutch voters have been seduced by positivity – liberals elsewhere, take note | Simon van Teutem

By selling hope alongside progressive patriotism, the centrist D66 party widened its appeal and beat the far rightProgressives often treat patriotism as radioactive. Flags and anthems are left to the populist right. But the centrist D66 party, which almost tripled its seats in this week’s Dutch election and looks set to form the next government in the Netherlands, has shown that another approach is possible.Under the leadership of Rob Jetten, it used what we might call progressive patriotism – and voters responded. Five strategies defined that success. Politicians across Europe could learn a thing or two.Simon van Teutem is a writer for De Correspondent Continue reading...

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4 d. ago Centrist party expected to take most seats in Dutch election as voters 'reject politics of hate'

The centrist D66 party led by Rob Jetten was projected to win 27 seats out of 150 in parliament, ahead of Wilders and his far-right PVV Freedom Party with 25 seats, according to the Ipsos poll.

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4 d. ago Centrist D66 party expected to win most seats in Netherlands election – Europe live

Exit poll suggests Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV could finish second, but election is deemed ‘too close to call’The Anne Frank House is not the only unusual place where voters can cast their votes today.The Dutch Vogue has a list of 11 special locations, including a children’s zoo in Amsterdam, the marine museum in Rotterdam, the miniature park in The Hague. Continue reading...

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4 d. ago Netherlands braced for exit poll in parliamentary election – Europe live

Polls suggest Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom party (PVV) could finish first in vote triggered when he pulled out of rightwing coalition in JuneThe Anne Frank House is not the only unusual place where voters can cast their votes today.The Dutch Vogue has a list of 11 special locations, including a children’s zoo in Amsterdam, the marine museum in Rotterdam, the miniature park in The Hague. Continue reading...

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7 d. ago Geert Wilders failed in government, but the far right retains its grip on the Netherlands | Cas Mudde

A media in thrall to Wilders’ party ensures its agenda is entrenched in Dutch politics and will dominate Wednesday’s electionOn Wednesday Dutch people go to the ballot box again! This will be the ninth election for the Tweede Kamer (second chamber), the Dutch parliament’s legislative chamber, in this still young century. In some ways the Netherlands has become the Italy of the 21st century, plagued by political fragmentation, governmental instability, and radicalisation (accompanied, increasingly often, by violence).This election is a direct result of this fragmentation and instability. The far-right Freedom Party (PVV) led by Geert Wilders dominated the last ruling coalition, but still pulled the plug in July, after less than a year. The various lessons that the Dutch media, political parties, and voters have drawn from this tumultuous experience should be relevant beyond the Netherlands, given that most European countries are struggling with a similar challenge: how to deal with t...

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7 d. ago Voters in Dutch general election have 27 parties and 1,166 candidates to choose from

Dutch voters face a wide array of choices in Wednesday's general election

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1 week ago The Dutch election: key players and main issues in the snap poll

Voters could swap a rightwing government for a more moderate coalition – but the fragmentary political system makes any outcome possibleHere is the lowdown on elections in the Netherlands, where voters look likely to swap the most rightwing government in recent Dutch history for a more moderate, commonsense coalition in a snap parliamentary ballot on 29 October. Continue reading...

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1 week ago AI chatbots give ‘unreliable and biased’ advice to voters, says Dutch watchdog

Data protection authority warns against using AI as a voting aid tool days before national elections in the NetherlandsEurope live – latest updatesAI chatbots are “unreliable and clearly biased” when offering voting advice, the Dutch data protection authority (AP) has said, warning of a threat to democracy eight days before national elections.The four chatbots tested by the AP “often end up with the same two parties, regardless of the user’s question or command”, the authority said in a report ahead of the 29 October election. Continue reading...

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1 week ago Don’t use AI to tell you how to vote in election, says Dutch watchdog

Data protection authority says chatbots are ‘clearly biased’, as Netherlands prepares for national pollDutch election: key players and main issuesEurope live – latest updatesAI chatbots are “unreliable and clearly biased” when offering voting advice, the Dutch data protection authority (AP) has said, warning of a threat to democracy eight days before national elections.The four chatbots tested by the AP “often end up with the same two parties, regardless of the user’s question or command”, the authority said in a report ahead of the 29 October election. Continue reading...

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