Rob Jetten, leader of the Dutch centrist liberal party D66, is poised to become the youngest prime minister in modern Dutch history following a closely contested election. According to vote analysis by Dutch news agency ANP, Jetten’s party has secured a narrow lead of 15,000 votes over anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party, making it impossible for Wilders to overturn the result. Although the final vote count is incomplete, projections indicate both parties will hold 26 seats in the 150-seat parliament, with Jetten’s D66 potentially gaining a 27th seat. Jetten, 38, expressed pride in the historic outcome, acknowledging the significant responsibility of forming a stable government. Despite Wilders leading pre-election polls, Jetten’s positive campaign, centered on the slogan ‘Yes, we can,’ resonated strongly in key cities like Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. While Jetten has cautiously refrained from declaring victory until all votes are counted, ANP’s analysis of overseas postal votes confirms his win. However, forming a coalition government remains a complex challenge. Jetten will need the support of at least three other parties to secure the 76 seats required, with potential partners including the conservative-liberal VVD, the left-wing Labour-GreenLeft alliance, and the Christian Democrats. Outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof, appointed by Wilders after he abandoned his own bid for the role, predicted the coalition-building process could extend beyond Christmas. Wilders, who won the previous election in November 2023, saw his government collapse in July 2024 due to disputes over asylum and migration policies.
Dutch centrist Rob Jetten wins neck-and-neck election race, vote analysis says
