Netherlands: Prime Minister Mark Rutte's Liberals lead the legislative elections
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte could be well on his way to a fourth term.
Here, shortly before voting in The Hague, March 17, 2021. REUTERS - PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The liberal party of outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte won the legislative elections dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic on Wednesday March 17, according to exit polls.
This should allow him to lead his fourth government coalition since 2010, despite a scandal prompting him to resign.
Publicity
Read more
These polls credited
the liberals of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD)
with 36 seats out of 150 in the lower house of parliament, against 33 in the outgoing assembly, and allocated 27 seats to D66 (center left) and 17 to the Party for PVV Freedom of the anti-Islam deputy Geert Wilders, with whom the main parties have already ruled out forming a coalition.
All three would be followed by the CDA (Christian Democrats) of Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra, with 14 seats.
This party, already part of the current coalition, would again be a “
natural partner
” for the Prime Minister.
These
legislative measures had been modified because of the Covid-19
, in particular by taking place over three days and were considered as a test of the management of the epidemic by the current government.
The ballot boxes were in unusual places such as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, hotels, train stations, churches and
testing centers
all over the Netherlands, where you could sometimes vote by bike or car. .
Mark Rutte "
untouchable
"
"
The campaign is different from what it was compared to the other elections and it is really focused on what is happening now,
" Twan Compen, 37, voter told AFP.
According to another voter, the Prime Minister, in power since 2010, remains "
a little untouchable
", noted Erik Spruijt, 35 years old.
"
I am proud of what we have achieved over the past ten years in the Netherlands, one of the most successful economies in Europe,
"
Mark Rutte told reporters before voting at a school in The Hague , calling himself "
cautiously
" optimistic.
“
The main question in these elections is who can best lead this country through the coronavirus crisis
,” he added.
A record number of 37 parties
contested for 150 seats in the lower house of parliament, in a fragmented political landscape that forces complex coalitions.
Mark Rutte ruled out any coalition with Geert Wilders "
because of what he said about Islam and the Koran
".
The anti-Islam deputy, however, insisted that his party be invited to the negotiating table during the formation of a government coalition after the election.
Nicknamed the Prime Minister "Teflon" for his ability to emerge unscathed from political crises,
Mark Rutte was nevertheless forced to resign in January
after thousands of
parents were wrongly accused of fraud in family allowances
.
His government, however, remained in place to take care of the day-to-day business.
(With AFP)
►
Also to listen:
Legislative elections in the Netherlands: the Love Party or the rejection of anti-Covid-19 measures
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Netherlands
On the same subject
Report
Legislative elections in the Netherlands: the Love Party or the rejection of anti-Covid-19 measures
Legislative in the Netherlands: third and last day of voting, conservative Mark Rutte given favorite
International report
Parliamentary elections in the Netherlands