21 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...

Politics

21 h. ago The Guardian view on art and health: the masterpiece can cure the body as well as the soul | Editorial

From a Van Gogh self-portrait to Gauguin’s dreamscapes, new studies show that seeing original art can calm stress and boost healthIn an era characterised by burnout and doomscrolling, a therapeutic alternative is hanging on a gallery wall. When volunteers at London’s Courtauld Gallery stood before Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait With Bandaged Ear, Manet’s Bar at the Folies-Bergère, and Gauguin’s Te Rerioa, their stress and inflammation levels dropped compared with those of volunteers viewing reproductions. Science suggests that original art is a medicine that one can view rather than swallow.That art can lift spirits is well known. But that it calms the body is novel. A study by King’s College London asked participants to look at masterworks by 19th-century post-impressionists – Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet and Gauguin – while strapped to sensors. Half the group saw the originals in the gallery, half viewed copies in a lab. The results were clear: going to art galleries is good f...

Politics

32 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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68 h. ago The Guardian view on Andrew’s downfall: Britain’s relationship with the royals needs a reset | Editorial

The former prince’s retirement from public life is welcome. Problems around royal secrecy and entitlement remain to be tackledPrince Andrew is no more. Henceforth the king’s younger brother will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. With the Thursday night announcement, and the news that Mr Mountbatten Windsor will quit his 30-room home in Windsor, the monarch hopes to draw a line under the shame of the former prince’s friendship with the dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and alleged sexual assault of Virginia Giuffre when she was 17, which he has always denied.These “censures” – as Buckingham Palace termed them – were made necessary by Mr Mountbatten Windsor’s poor judgment and deceit, including the lie that he had broken off contact with Epstein in 2010. But the real damage was done by his grotesquely entitled behaviour and appalling choice of friends. It should not have taken the painful details in Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, an extract of which was pub...

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69 h. ago The Guardian view on the atrocities in El Fasher: the responsibility for these horrors extends beyond Sudan’s borders | Editorial

The world said ‘never again’ after Darfur’s genocide. Yet it stood by as catastrophe loomedNo one can claim they did not know what would happen in El Fasher. An 18-month siege had already seen war crimes by the Rapid Support Forces, including the execution of civilians and sexual violence. Warnings of the massacres that would follow when the city in Darfur fell – as it did on Sunday – were widespread.The reality was an even darker hell, in the words of UN officials. The World Health Organization says that the RSF killed 460 people in one hospital. Satellite images appear to capture bloodstains on the ground. Footage showed fighters executing unarmed men. Other captives were taken for ransom. The UN says hundreds of civilians and unarmed fighters were raped or killed while trying to flee the city, with clear evidence of ethnically targeted violence. The horrors continue. Continue reading...

Events

2 d. ago Who is Rob Jetten? The centrist tipped to become youngest Dutch PM

Rob Jetten is poised to form a new Dutch government after his party D66 won the Netherlands general election

Politics

3 d. ago Dutch centrist party D66 wins election after close race with far

The Netherlands election results were announced by Dutch media agency ANP after a nail-biting vote count

Politics

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...

Politics

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...

Politics

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

3 d. ago The Guardian view on Trump and China: stepping back from the brink, but not solving problems | Editorial

Though the US president’s meeting with Xi Jinping appears to have staved off a global trade war, this is far from a win for WashingtonThe diverging verdicts offered by the Chinese and American leaders after their talks in South Korea on Thursday reflected more than the chasms between their personal styles and political cultures. Donald Trump gushed about an “amazing” meeting, scoring it 12 out of 10; Xi Jinping reportedly noted that a consensus had been reached, with the two sides needing to finalise follow-up steps rapidly.Mr Trump’s usual trade approach – shout loudly and wave a big stick – faltered when Beijing raised its own bludgeon. No tribute of gold crowns or Nobel nomination pledges were on offer from Mr Xi. The US president blinked first – but, predictably, attempted to repackage the underwhelming result as a great success. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Meet the centrist hunk set to be new Dutch PM as Rob Jetten pulls off shock victory over anti

VOTERS in the Netherlands are on the edge of witnessing history as Rob Jetten is poised to become the country's next PM. The 38-year-old centrist candidate has pulled off a stunning surge to rival far-right leader Geert Wilders, with the two deadlocked after an incredibly tight Dutch election. With fewer than 2,000 votes separating them,...

Events

3 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 election in dead heat with a few thousand votes separating Geert Wilders' anti

The Dutch election climaxed in an unprecedented cliffhanger on Thursday, with only a few thousand votes separating Geert Wilders' hard-right party and a pro-EU party.

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...

Politics

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...

Politics

4 d. ago Who is Rob Jetten? The centrist who fought off Wilders in Dutch election

Rob Jetten has turned D66’s fortunes around and is poised to form a new Dutch government

Politics

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

Politics

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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