Centrist liberal leader Rob Jetten has claimed victory in Wednesday's nail-biting Dutch election, with analysis indicating his party could not be beaten by anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders.
Jetten's D66 party currently has a narrow lead of 15,000 votes over Wilders' Freedom Party, and Dutch news agency ANP says even though the vote count is not complete, Wilders can no longer win.
We are the biggest party in the Netherlands! Now we'll get to work for all Dutch people, Jetten posted on X.
Wilders reacted, stating the electoral council, not a news agency, should decide the result: What arrogance not to wait for that.
Projections from about 99% of the vote put both parties on 26 seats in the 150-seat parliament - but ANP reports Jetten's centrists may secure a 27th seat.
Jetten, 38, expressed great pride in this historic result, stating he felt a tremendous responsibility to form a stable and ambitious government.
Wilders had led opinion polls before the election, but Jetten’s positive campaign resonated in major cities such as Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht.
No Dutch election race has ever been so close. If Jetten becomes prime minister, he will be the youngest in Dutch history.
Until now, Jetten was cautious to declare victory, but based on postal voters abroad, ANP indicated he could be declared the winner.
Despite D66's anticipated success, Wilders vowed that his Freedom Party would resist any efforts that could undermine Dutch unity.
Jetten's party has reported winning 16.9% of the vote, while Wilders' Freedom Party stands at 16.7%. As the results emerged, the lead has shifted back and forth between the two parties.
Not ready to concede, Wilders dismissed the Dutch news agency as ANP66 and promoted unverified claims of vote-rigging.
Though Jetten's path to forming a coalition is complex, he aims to move swiftly to solidify support among potential allies, requiring at least three other parties to achieve the 76 seats necessary for a coalition government.
As discussions for coalition formation begin next week, Jetten's prior performances in interviews and public appearances have significantly turned the tide for D66 since they served only nine seats in the previous election.
Outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed skepticism about the speed with which a coalition will be formed, anticipating he may still hold office by Christmas.
Before his fall, Wilders had led the government since the last election in November 2023.
