29 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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39 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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3 d. ago Rob Jetten celebrates ‘historic result’ as his centrist D66 party is projected to win Dutch election – Europe live

Although final results are yet to be announced, analysis by the Netherlands news agency ANP suggests D66 has unassailable lead over Geert Wilders’ far-right PVVThe ANP news agency offered a bit more colour on how they reached their conclusion, via De Telegraaf.The agency looked at various scenarios of what could happen with the outstanding votes – in Venray and from overseas postal voters – and concluded that, accounting for historical patterns, the PVV could no longer catch up D66, which currently leads by just over 15,000 votes. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Dutch media report centrist D66 party has won most votes in Netherlands election – Europe live

Although final results are yet to be determined, analysis by the Netherlands news agency ANP suggests Rob Jetten’s party has unassailable lead over Geert Wilders’ far-right PVVCentrist party D66, led by charismatic 38-year-old Rob Jetten, has won the most votes in this week’s Dutch parliamentary election, the country’s news agency ANP said.The agency collects the results from all municipalities in the Netherlands, and its provisional figures show that D66 now has an unassailable lead over Geert Wilders’s far-right PVV party, AD and De Telegraaf reported. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Ukraine reports fresh Russian attacks and says Moscow has used ‘secret’ missile in recent months – Europe live

The development of the 9M729 cruise missile prompted Donald Trump to abandon a nuclear arms control pact with Moscow during his first termOver in Lithuania, Vilnius airport had to briefly close again last night after more smuggling balloons were reported, causing further disruption for passengers – just days after the Lithuanian government vowed to do whatever it takes to stop them from coming.The restrictions were in place for around three hours, disrupting several flights; the fifth incident in the last 10 days. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Ukraine reports fresh Russian attacks amid reports Moscow used ‘secret’ missile in recent months – Europe live

The development of the 9M729 cruise missile prompted Donald Trump to abandon a nuclear arms control pact with Moscow during his first termUkraine has reported another series of attacks from Russia overnight, including a strike on the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, which injured at least 11 residents, local authorities said.The Sumy region borders Russia and has been under constant attack from drones and missiles, Reuters reported. The emergency services said on the Telegram messenger service that Russia had struck a residential multistorey building, private houses and infrastructure facilities. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Netherlands election 2025: Rob Jetten could become youngest leader after close tie with Geert Wilders

Rob Jetten, 38, could become country’s youngest ever prime minister

Politics

4 d. ago Dutch centrists D66 back in lead in election vote count, edging past far

Rob Jetten’s party now leading by 15,122 votes, putting it back in the pole position to lead the talks on forming the next governmentIn terms of managing our expectations as to when the new Dutch government could be formed, Joost Eerdmans of the right-wing JA21 party – a potential coalition partner in the new administration – has offered a bit of guidance on timing.Speaking to reporters earlier today, he confirmed the party “can definitely do business” with other parties, but insisted that he would “rather have a stable cabinet in a few months than a messy cabinet before Christmas.” Continue reading...

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4 d. ago Geert Wilders faces shutout as centrists hail huge gains in knife

Far right is neck-and-neck with liberal D66 but all major mainstream parties have ruled out working with anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders is almost certain to be shut out of the next Dutch government after a knife-edge general election in which support for his far-right Freedom party (PVV) slumped and the liberal-progressive D66 party made spectacular gains.With more than 98% of votes counted from Wednesday’s election, the two parties were neck-and-neck on a projected 26 seats each in the Netherlands’ 150-seat parliament, with the difference between them only a couple of thousand votes. Continue reading...

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4 d. ago Netherlands could have its youngest leader ever as centrist party wins big in election

The result instead seems to open a path for D66 leader Rob Jetten to form a government

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4 d. ago Centrist D66 party will win most seats in Dutch election, exit poll predicts

Result would pave the way for the Netherlands’ first out gay prime minister and end far-right populist Geert Wilders’ time in powerThe liberal-progressive D66 party was on track to become the largest in the Dutch parliament, according to an exit poll, after a snap general election in which Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom party was predicted to lose a third of its seats.The exit poll, with a one- to two-seat margin of error, gave the centrist party an estimated 27 MPs in the 150-seat assembly, possibly clearing a path for its 38-year-old leader, Rob Jetten, to become the Netherlands’ youngest and first out gay prime minister. Continue reading...

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5 d. ago Centrist D66 party set to win most seats in Dutch election, exit poll suggests

Result would pave the way for the Netherlands’ first out gay prime minister and end far-right populist Geert Wilders’ time in powerThe liberal-progressive D66 party was on track to become the largest in the Dutch parliament, according to an exit poll, after a snap general election in which Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom party was seen losing a third of its seats.The poll, with a one- to two-seat margin of error, gave the centrist party an estimated 27 MPs in the 150-seat assembly, possibly clearing a path for its 38-year-old leader, Rob Jetten, to become the Netherlands’ youngest and first out gay prime minister. Continue reading...

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5 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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5 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...

Politics

5 d. ago Voting under way in Netherlands 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 Junein AmsterdamThere was an interesting interview with a Dutch taxi driver on NPO Radio 1 earlier, who characterised his job as “modern slavery,” working all hours to make ends meet, and has totally lost faith in democracy. Continue reading...

Politics

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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