Context:

In a closely contested national election in the Netherlands, the centrist D66 party narrowly defeated Geert Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom, both securing 26 seats in parliament but with D66 holding a slight edge of 28,000 votes. Rob Jetten, D66's leader, celebrated the outcome as historic, highlighting the significant loss of 11 seats for the PVV, which had surged two years prior. This election showcased the challenges for Wilders, who faced criticism for previous coalition governance that struggled with migration policies. As the leading party, D66 will initiate coalition talks, a process expected to take weeks. The final election results will be certified by the Electoral Council soon.

Dive Deeper:

• The election took place on October 30, 2025, and the final results were impacted by postal votes from Dutch citizens living abroad, which delayed the outcome until late Monday evening.

• Rob Jetten, at 38, is poised to become the youngest and first openly gay leader of the Netherlands, emphasizing a sense of responsibility towards the country after the election win.

• The far-right PVV, led by Geert Wilders, has seen a significant decline in support, losing 11 seats from their previous performance, attributed to internal coalition conflicts and failed migration policies.

• Wilders has alleged possible voting irregularities following his party's defeat, but these claims have been dismissed by local municipalities and the independent Electoral Council.

• The formation of a new coalition government is expected to be complex and time-consuming, likely taking several weeks or months due to the fragmented political landscape in the Netherlands.

• D66's victory was anticipated based on pre-election polling, but the exact allocation of seats was uncertain until all votes were counted, highlighting the competitiveness of the election.

• The Electoral Council is set to formalize the election results, providing official validation to the outcome and paving the way for coalition negotiations.