exit polls show Geert Wilders’ far-right party in the lead

A possible political earthquake is emerging in the Netherlands. Exit polls suggest that Geert Wilders’ Islamophobic far-right Dutch party won the parliamentary election on Wednesday (November 22).

The PVV (Freedom Party) won 35 seats and a comfortable electoral victory, according to the Ipos poll. Frans Timmermans’ left-wing alliance is second with 26 seats. The center-right VVD won 23 seats, according to the poll.

Anti-immigration

If it is confirmed by the final results, Geert Wilders’ victory marks a sudden turn to the right which will be greeted with apprehension in Brussels: the PVV has notably promised a referendum on the accession of the Netherlands to the European Union. “It may not be what other parties in Europe or other countries are looking for, but hey, that’s democracy,” the 60-year-old politician said after voting.

His anti-immigration message, including closing borders and deporting illegal immigrants, appears to have resonated with Dutch voters. But if Geert Wilders seems to have triumphed in the polls, it is not certain that he will succeed in forming a government coalition. The leaders of the three other main parties have assured that they will not participate in a coalition led by the PVV.