3 w. 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

3 w. 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 w. 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 w. 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 w. 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

3 w. 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.

Politics