The vote in the European Union’s fifth-largest economy is being closely watched across the continent, at a time when far-right parties are seeing a surge in popularity across Europe.
According to polls, far-right leader Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom (PVV) could repeat last year’s success and win the most votes. But Wilders, known for his harsh anti-immigration and Eurosceptic rhetoric, will find it difficult to form a government because all major parties have already refused to cooperate with him.
In such a situation, the race for second place could be decisive, which will determine who will take the initiative in the negotiations on a new coalition. The left-green alliance led by Frans Timmermans and the centre-right CDA party of Henri Bontenbal, who is positioning himself as a moderate candidate calling for a “return to political normality”, have the best chances.
Analysts estimate that the Dutch public is deeply divided between those who want tougher measures against migrants and those who emphasize social and environmental stability. The main problems remain the housing crisis, rising costs of living and distrust of political elites.
No party will have an absolute majority, so lengthy negotiations are expected – the formation of the last government took as long as 223 days. Regardless of the outcome, these elections could become an indicator of the direction in which the political climate is moving throughout Europe.
(Vijesti.ba)
