Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's Fourth Term Re-election in Sight

Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands [Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, is expected to become the longest-serving prime minister in Dutch history after securing a fourth term.

According to the AP News on the 17th (local time), exit polls from the Dutch general election held that day indicate that the center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), led by Prime Minister Rutte, is expected to maintain its position as the largest party in parliament.

VVD is expected to secure the largest number of seats, 35 out of a total of 150. This is predicted to be an increase of 2 seats compared to the 2017 general election. VVD's vote share, which was 21.3% in the 2017 election, is expected to rise to 24%.

Democrats 66 (D66), currently the fourth-largest party with 19 seats, is expected to increase its seats by 8 and become the second-largest party in parliament. The centrist D66's vote share is expected to soar from 12.2% to 18%.

D66's advance is welcome news for Prime Minister Rutte. In the previous administration, Rutte maintained a coalition government with D66 and three other parties. Ahead of the election, Rutte stated that he would be the first to negotiate a coalition with D66 to lay the foundation for the government.

Sigrid Kaag, leader of D66, congratulated Prime Minister Rutte and expressed gratitude to supporters. She posted on D66's Twitter, "What I have always believed was confirmed tonight," adding, "The Dutch people are not radical but have a moderate and warm attitude."

In the Netherlands, over 16,000 people have died from COVID-19 so far, and strong lockdown measures, including a nighttime curfew since January this year, have been maintained. Although protests condemning the government have erupted, especially among the younger generation, the election results are interpreted as a continued trust in Prime Minister Rutte.

The Party for Freedom (PVV), led by far-right politician Geert Wilders, known for his anti-Islam stance, is predicted to come in third with 17 seats. PVV's vote share is expected to drop from 13.1% to 11.3%, with a loss of 2 to 3 seats.

If the final count confirms VVD as the largest party, Prime Minister Rutte will lead negotiations to form the next coalition government. If successful, Rutte will continue into his fourth term and become the longest-serving prime minister in the Netherlands. Rutte has been leading the Netherlands since 2010.

The election was originally scheduled for one day but was held over three days to maintain social distancing at polling stations due to the spread of COVID-19. The Dutch government led by Rutte had resigned en masse in January following a childcare subsidy scandal and had been serving in a caretaker capacity until this election.

It may take several months to form the new coalition government. To form a coalition, Rutte needs to secure a majority of 76 seats and is expected to partner with at least two other parties. Previously, Rutte formed a coalition government with D66 and three other parties.

The other two parties that previously formed a coalition with VVD are the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and the Christian Union (CU). CDA's vote share is expected to decline from 12.4% in the 2017 election to 9.3%. CU's vote share is also expected to decrease from 3.4% to 2.7%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.