Elections in the Netherlands

Polling stations have opened – 27 parties to choose from

The Dutch polling stations have opened and voters now have to decide which of the 27 parties they want to govern the country, writes The Guardian.

Since the Dutch electoral system is completely proportional, it is enough to get 0.67 percent of the vote to take a seat, and a party for citizens over 50, an animal rights party and a single-issue party that advocates universal basic income all have a real chance of entering parliament.

Three parties are in a very close lead in the opinion polls: the far-right PVV party, the left-wing alliance GL/PvdA and the liberal D66 are expected to get 23 seats each, according to Politico.

Migration, housing shortages and government chaos characterize the Dutch election

The Netherlands goes to the polls on Wednesday. The election campaign has been mainly about how to limit immigration and how to solve the country's housing crisis, reports AP. According to opinion polls, far-right politician Geert Wilders, who won the last election, and his party PVV look set to win again.

Wilders managed to bring down the government he himself was part of during the summer after failing to pass stricter asylum and migration laws. Even if he were to win Wednesday's election, there is much evidence that it will be difficult to form a new government.

Several major parties have said that the government chaos this summer is proof that it is not possible to cooperate with the PVV. Several parties have also already ruled out cooperation.

Latest poll suggests that the election will be a close one

Wednesday's parliamentary election in the Netherlands looks set to be a close one. In the last poll before election day, conducted by Ipsos I&O, three parties appear to have equal support – 23 seats. This concerns the far-right PVV party led by Geert Wilders, the left-wing alliance GL/PvdA and the liberal centre-right party D66.

If the poll proves to be correct, it will be a major loss for the PVV, which won 37 seats in the 2023 election. There is much to suggest that Wilders will have difficulty forming a government after the election, mainly because many parties have already ruled out cooperation with his PVV.

Behind the three parties is the Christian Democrats CDA, which looks set to increase significantly compared to the last election. Their party leader Henri Bontenbal, who has been identified as a possible prime minister candidate, has gone to the polls to get rid of the chaos in the country's government.