 "Democrats 66 (D66) party leader Rob Jetten gestures while addressing supporters following the exit poll and early results in the Dutch parliamentary elections in Leiden, Netherlands, on October 29, 2025. Reuters File")
The Dutch centrist party D66 secured the most votes in Wednesday’s general election, according to a Reuters report, citing ANP news agency on Friday, putting 38-year-old leader Rob Jetten on track to become the youngest prime minister in the Netherlands.
With nearly all votes counted, D66 has pulled ahead of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) led by Geert Wilders, according to ANP’s municipal vote tally.
The party is expected to lead initial coalition talks, a process that typically takes months.
Holding roughly 18% of the vote, D66 will need at least three partners to command a majority in the 150-seat lower house.
On Friday, Jetten called on mainstream parties across the political spectrum to come together, emphasizing cooperation to address key national issues.
“Voters have clearly indicated the need for cooperation,” Jetten was quoted as saying.
“We want to find a majority that will eagerly work on issues such as the housing market, migration, climate and the economy,” he added.
The pro-EU, liberal D66 tripled its seat count, fueled by an energetic campaign and increased advertising, while Geert Wilders’ PVV lost much of the support that had secured a surprise victory in 2023.
The vote count remained close, with preliminary results showing a narrow win for D66, though the PVV briefly surged ahead near the end.
Despite all mainstream parties ruling out cooperation with him, Wilders had insisted he should get the first chance to form a coalition if his party won the most votes.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsFinal results will be confirmed on Monday, after mail-in ballots from Dutch citizens abroad are counted, and party leaders are set to discuss next steps on Tuesday.
With inputs from agencies