The Netherlands holds early elections this Wednesday to decide the successor of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is leaving power after 13 years, and polls reveal tight results that could force coalitions, particularly with the far right.
With this Wednesday’s vote, the Netherlands marks the end of an era, given the 13 years of leadership of the conservative Mark Rutte, the longest-serving prime minister in Dutch history and seen by analysts as a political survivor but also as a promoter of stability. in light of the various scandals and challenges he faced during his government career.
At the moment, polls indicate that none of the three main parties – the Party of Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the New Social Contract (NSC) and the Alliance of the Greens and the Workers’ Party (GL-PvdA) )- will achieve more than 20% of the votes, which could force these political forces to sign coalition agreements with the other 14 forces running for election.
One of the options is precisely a possible coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (PVV).
Mark Rutte, leader of the VVD for 17 years, surprised last July by announcing his resignation, after the sudden collapse of his fourth government coalition due to an internal division over immigration policy, in a context of rise of right-wing parties.
In addition to migration, other issues have marked the political campaign in the country. This is the case of housing, at a time when it is estimated that 390,000 homes are missing in Holland.
The economic crisis following the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion and high inflation have been other hot topics of the election campaign.
Source: TSF
