In a time where both extremes of the political spectrum are growing across the world, the Centre in the Netherlands have prevailed. Rob Jetten, the leader of the Democrat 66 party has won the right to lead coalition talks and form the next Governent. In an election that had a robust turn out (78.4%) the Democrat 66 party gained 10.6% putting them at 16.9% of the vote, just behind this the Party for Freedom, led by right wing populist Geert Wilders, lost 6.7% of the vote landing them at 16.8% of the vote, just 0.1% behind the D66 party.
In third place, the centre right VVD (peoples party for freedom and Democracy) led by Dilan Yesilgoz lost 1.1% of the vote, positioning them at 14.2% overall. In 4th the GL/PVDA lost 3.1% but remain strong at 12.7% of the vote. But why has this shift specifically happened in the Netherlands?
Firstly, effective campaign messaging has enabled the D66 Party to engage with voters on issues they see close to their heart. These issues range from housing, health care and the cost of living. For example, a D66 Government would aim to build 9,000 new houses per year of which “50% is affordable and available to middle class incomes”, along with 10 new cities being built to free up affordable housing.
Furthermore the Democrat 66 party aims to not raise the annual 385 euro excess charge, and to grant further autonomy for healthcare officials. Secondly, the decline of the far right party led by Geert Wilders has led to more voters turning to D66 who are looking for an alternative option. Furthermore, many mainstream parties have ruled out forming a coalition Governent with the PVV, with even the D66 ruling out inviting them to join a coalition with concerns of their reliability over withdrawing from previous coalitions.
The centre left bloc PVDA has refused to enter Government with Gert Wielders party due to ideological circumstances. Jettins D66 victory appears as a standout result in Europe, with parties from both sides of the political spectrum rising rapidly across the continent. For example, in France, far right party The Resemblant National is currently polling at 35% and the leftist political alliance Nouvea Front Populaire (nfp) polling at 24%, with Macrons centrist party The Ensemble dropping to 14% due to the recent political crisis.
Likewise, just across the border in Germany the far right party AFD is joint top of the polls with the incumbent party CDU, as both are polling at 25.6%, however AFD is rapidly growing in support whilst the CDU is starting to fall. Back at home, right wing party Reform Uk continue to top the polls, along with left wing progressive Green Party who seem to be gaining momentum in the Polls. It is quite clear that the Netherlands electorate have decided to vote in a different manner to their European counterparts, but what does this mean for the country?
It means a tone back in extreme political rhetoric we are seeing across Europe from far right and far left parties and a vote against populism. Furthermore, it means voters core interests, such as housing, immigration and healthcare are being tackled, as they were central to D66 campaigning. It means the Netherlands have chosen a more pro-European Union path and a rejection of Wilders eurosceptic administration.
But Rob Jettins still needs to lead negotiations to form a coalition, with r ight wing party PVV being seen as too extreme, especially for left wing parties to enter a coalition with, they are almost excluded from negotiations, meaning Rob Jettins has two options to form a coalition. A broad centre left coalition with the GLPV- DA, CDA and possibly the VVD, or a centre right Coalition with VVD and the CDA.