The Netherlands’ liberal-progressive D66 party is poised to become the largest group in parliament, according to exit polls from the snap general elections. The results suggest a big setback for Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV), which may lose nearly a third of its seats.

The exit poll, with a one- to two-seat margin of error, shows D66 winning around 27 seats in the 150-member parliament. This puts 38-year-old Rob Jetten on track to become the country’s youngest and first openly gay Prime Minister.

If confirmed, this outcome would mark a remarkable comeback for D66. The party won only nine seats in the 2023 elections. It would also be a major blow for Wilders’ PVV, which could drop from 37 to 25 seats, according to The Guardian.

Shift in Public Mood

The results reflect a clear shift to the left among Dutch voters after two years of political chaos. The PVV-led coalition government struggled with internal fights and delivered few results.

Rob Jetten celebrated the win at the party’s event in Leiden. “We have today achieved D66’s best result,” he told cheering supporters. “Millions of Dutch people have turned a page. They have said goodbye to the politics of negativity, of hate, of ‘it can’t be done’.”

He added, “Let’s also turn the page on Wilders and work on a splendid future for our beautiful country … in the coming years, we will do everything we can to show all Dutch people … that politics and the government can be there for them again.”

Wilders Faces Setback

Even if the final results keep Wilders’ PVV close to the top, his brief rule appears to be over. All major parties have already ruled out forming a coalition with him.

The snap election happened after Wilders pulled his party out of the government in June, less than a year after taking office. His coalition partners refused to support his harsh anti-refugee plans, calling them unrealistic or illegal.

Wilders admitted defeat but defended his decision. “The voter has spoken. We had hoped for a different outcome, but we stuck to our guns,” he posted on social media.

In the Dutch proportional system, 0.67% of the vote equals one parliamentary seat. Out of the 27 parties contesting, 15 cleared that bar, including niche parties for youth, seniors, animals, and even universal basic income.

This deep political split means no party can govern alone. The Netherlands has relied on multi-party coalitions for over a century, and the next government will likely follow the same pattern.

What Comes Next

The centre-left GreenLeft/Labour alliance (GL/PvdA) had a disappointing result, finishing third with 20 seats — five fewer than before. Party leader Frans Timmermans, a former European Commission Vice President, resigned after the poor showing.

He accepted responsibility, saying, “It is time for me to take a step back and hand over the leadership of our movement to the next generation.”

To form a majority, 76 seats are needed. Analysts suggest a possible coalition involving D66, CDA, GL/PvdA, and the liberal-conservative VVD, which slightly improved to 23 seats. But forming such a broad alliance could be difficult.

Once in power, the new government will face urgent issues such as rising healthcare costs and a growing housing crisis.

However, experts warn that this return to centrist politics may not last long. The Netherlands could once again see turbulent times ahead.