THE HAGUE: Dutch voters appeared to have rejected far-right leader Geert Wilders in favor of a centrist party, an exit poll suggested Wednesday, after a cliffhanger election closely watched in Europe where extremists are gaining ground.
The centrist D66 party led by Rob Jetten was projected to win 27 seats out of 150 in parliament, ahead of Wilders and his far-right PVV Freedom Party with 25 seats, according to the Ipsos poll.
If confirmed, the result would put Jetten, 38, in pole position to become the country’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister, subject to coalition talks.
D66 supporters exploded with joy at their election party in Leiden, waving Dutch and European flags. “We’ve done it,” said a jubilant Jetten.
“This is a historic election result because we’ve shown not only to the Netherlands but also to the world that it is possible to beat populist and extreme-right movements,” Jetten told reporters.
