Dutch voters head to polls in election focused on housing and Wilders • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• Dutch House of Representatives Election: A general election in the Netherlands to elect members of the lower house of parliament.
• Coalition Government: A government formed by two or more political parties working together.
• Far-Right Parties: Political parties with ideologies typically characterized by nationalism, anti-immigration stances, and conservative social policies.
• Immigration and Asylum Seekers: Key issues in the election, particularly concerning border security and the allocation of social housing.
• Social Housing: Government-subsidized housing available to low-income individuals and families.
• Abstention Rate: The percentage of eligible voters who do not participate in an election.
• Political Apathy: A lack of interest or engagement in politics among the electorate.

Election Overview and Key Players

The Netherlands is holding a general election with 27 parties and 1,166 candidates competing for 150 seats in the House of Representatives. The election follows the collapse of the previous ruling corporate coalition due to disagreements over immigration policy. There are concerns that far-right parties will benefit from this situation, with polls suggesting the Freedom Party (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, could repeat its strong performance from 2023.

Polling booths opened at 7:30 AM and will close at 9:00 PM, with 13 million voters expected to cast ballots. A majority in the 150-seat chamber requires 76 seats, a threshold that has not been met by any single party in the Netherlands for the past century, indicating that coalition governments are the norm.

Leading Parties and Projections:

• Party for Freedom (PVV): Led by Geert Wilders. Polls suggest it is in the lead, with projections ranging from 27-34 seats. This is an optimistic rating for Wilders, potentially down from the 37 seats he currently holds.
• GroenLinks-PvdA Alliance: A center-left coalition led by Frans Timmermans, a former EU Commissioner. This alliance is seeing an increase in support, with polls indicating around 25 seats.
• Christian Democrats (CDA): Led by Henri Bontenbal. This center-right party is projected to gain 23 seats.

The central question of the election is whether the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance or the Christian Democrats will secure more seats than Wilders' PVV.

Other Notable Parties:

• D66 (Democrats 66): Named after its founding year (1966). Led by Rob Jetten, a former climate minister and the youngest candidate at 38 years old.
• VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy): The former ruling conservative right-wing party, led by Dilan Yeşilgöz, a former Turkish refugee and the party of former Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The VVD has seen a decline in support, attributed to its perceived shift towards the extreme right. Notably, the VVD has stated it would not support Wilders if re-elected.

Key Issues Driving the Election

The election campaign has been heavily dominated by a few core issues:

• Immigration and Asylum: This is a central theme, with parties debating border security, the treatment of asylum seekers, and the suspension of EU asylum quotas. Geert Wilders' anti-immigrant and anti-asylum seeker platform was the reason he pulled out of the previous government coalition.
• Housing: A significant concern for many Dutch citizens, particularly the availability of social housing. There is a perception that immigrants are prioritized for social housing, leading to frustration among Dutch citizens who have been waiting for years. The GroenLinks-PvdA alliance plans to build 100,000 homes to address affordability issues.
• Healthcare: Another important issue for voters.
• Economy: The VVD has proposed tax cuts and increased defense spending.

Political Dynamics and Potential Outcomes

The previous government collapsed because other coalition parties found Wilders' demands on immigration policy unacceptable. He sought to secure borders, send refugees home, and suspend EU asylum quotas, which the government refused to implement. This led to Wilders withdrawing his support, triggering the current election.

There is a possibility that Henri Bontenbal of the CDA could emerge as a compromise candidate for Prime Minister if other parties refuse to govern with Geert Wilders. This scenario is plausible given that many parties do not have confidence in Wilders, especially after he withdrew from the previous government.

Voter Apathy and Democratic Concerns

This is the fourth Dutch election in three years, leading to concerns about voter apathy. Polls indicate a significant decline in public trust in politicians, with only 4% of the Dutch expressing confidence in them. Furthermore, a substantial portion of voters (two out of three) were undecided about who to vote for even shortly before going to the polls. Young people, in particular, have expressed disinterest in voting, leading to campaigns aimed at encouraging them to participate and highlighting the potential threat to democracy if turnout is low.

Potential Impact of Election Results

Regardless of the outcome, if Geert Wilders' party is not included in the new coalition government, it is expected to widen the divide between his supporters and those who did not vote for him. His supporters may feel that he has been denied an opportunity to implement his policies, increasing the demand for him to be included in government. This could lead to a greater polarization of the political spectrum in the Netherlands.

Exit polls are expected after voting concludes at 9:00 PM.