"Tight race" and "nail-biter," foreign media write about Dutch parliamentary election
The parliamentary elections in the Netherlands today are also attracting attention from some international media sources. They write about a “tight race” and “nail-biter”, and complicated coalition negotiations set to follow. Most expect Geert Wilders and his far-right PVV to have a harder time after his landslide victory in the 2023 election.
According to The New York Times, this election is a “Referendum on the Far Right.” The American newspaper points out that Wilders lost some support after toppling the current government, but remains a “main character” in this election. According to the newspaper, the results of the Dutch election “could offer a snapshot of how other far-right parties will fare in national votes even after causing political upheaval.”
The BBC expects a “tight race” for Wilders and his anti-Islam party. “Unlike last time, Wilders' rivals are refusing to work with him after he brought down his own coalition government last June.” According to the British broadcaster, the second-place winner of this election will likely be more important in determining the composition of the next government.
The German news site Tagesschau wonders whether voters will punish the Wilders coalition for not even making it a year. It expects difficult coalition negotiations in the coming months, saying that the Dutch parliament will be fragmented with over 15 parties likely to gain seats. “Even 20 percent of the vote would likely be enough to win the election, but far from enough to govern. For the third time after 2021 and 2023, the Netherlands faces difficult and tough coalition negotiations.”
Politico, a widely-read political newsletter, says that the Dutch election “promises to be a nail-biter.” It points out that the final polls have the far-right PVV, left-wing GL-PvdA, and liberal D66 neck-and-neck for the largest party. “The numbers reveal highly volatile voter support, with undecided voters likely to play a decisive role.”
