Updated 16.37 | Published 16.29
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1 / 5 Photo: Peter Dejong/AP/TT
A shocker awaits as four equally strong parties battle to be the largest in the Netherlands’ parliamentary elections.
Who afterwards can rule with whom is highly unclear.
At least 17 parties are expected to take their seats in the lower house of parliament, where there are no barriers to keep out the smallest.
At the top there is still a quartet in clear leadership in public opinion.
Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius from the right-liberal VVD, Pieter Omtzigt from the newly formed conservative NSC and Frans Timmermans from the red-green alliance PVDA/GL have long been considered to be settling to be the largest and get the first shot at forming a government.
However, in the run-up to the election, far-right veteran Geert Wilders from the anti-EU and anti-immigration PVV has passed everyone in public opinion.
Debate expert
Not really surprising, thinks Sim, who has just voted in a polling station on Prins Hendrikstraat in the center of The Hague.
– It always goes very well for him in the TV debates at the end. It suits him and his attacks. Then he changed his mind a little and now attracts more people who didn’t want to vote for him before, says Sim to TT’s representative.
She herself votes for change after 13 years with outgoing VVD leader Mark Rutte as head of government.
– There has only been one prime minister in the years I have been allowed to vote. Today there could be a change that changes the Netherlands, she says.
Expensive housing
Friends Leila and Jewell have also just voted – even if they hesitated.
– Everything just gets worse and worse. It feels like a given in advance with VVD, probably with help from PVV, says Leila.
Here in the center of The Hague, many emphasize the housing issue and rising living costs as important election issues.
– I am 27 years old and still live at home. Even though I have a good job and take care of myself, I can’t afford to get something of my own. Everything either goes to the very rich or ex-pats, Jewell sighs.
EU experienced?
There are many indications that it will take a long time to negotiate a new government after the election. Several different combinations are possible: the VVD can choose to go to both the right and the left, and it is also not impossible with an alliance between the social democrat Timmermans and the conservative Omtzigt.
On the left, there is hope that Wilder’s strong election spurt will make many hesitant or disinterested people go out and vote after all to avoid the PVV becoming the biggest.
It could make room for the language equilibrist and former foreign minister Timmermans, who has just returned home after years as the EU Commission’s climate general in Brussels.
– I can really see him as prime minister. I like the way he talks, that we all have to help each other, and that he doesn’t just complain, says leftist Daniel, outside a record shop in Amersfoort, four miles from Amsterdam.
THE FACTS The election in the Netherlands
On Wednesday, the Netherlands will hold elections for all 150 seats in the lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives. The election was called prematurely this summer, since the current coalition government between the right-liberal VVD, the left-liberal D66, the conservative CDA and the small Christian party CU has split over disagreement over immigration policy.
The latest opinion polls have pointed towards equal results for the VVD, the newly formed conservative populist party NSC, a coalition between the social democratic PVDA and the environmental party Groen Links and the far-right party PVV.
Further down are mainly D66, CDA, the left party SP, the animal rights party PVDD and newly formed rural populist BBB.
Since the Netherlands has no lower threshold for taking a seat in the parliament, it is estimated that up to 20 parties can get at least one mandate.
Polling stations close at 9 p.m., after which polling stations are expected from Dutch television.
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