Netherlands Holds Nationwide Elections
Voting has started in the nationwide elections in the Netherlands, held today, Wednesday.
Polls are open from 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM local time.
A total of 1,166 candidates from 27 parties are competing for 150 parliamentary seats.No party is expected to secure an absolute majority needed to form a government alone.
According to polls, the Party for Freedom lead by Geert Wilders, Democrats 66, and the coalition of the Labor Party and GreenLeft each are projected to win around 23 seats.
The total number of seats held by far-right parties is expected to rise from 41 to 45.
The Christian Democratic Appeal is predicted to gain 19 seats.
Meanwhile, former coalition partners such as the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and New Social Contract (NSC) face significant losses in support.
the Denk party-which as 2017 has advocated for Palestinian rights and fought against racism and discrimination-is expected to retain its three seats with stable votes.
Preliminary election results will be announced late tonight. Official results will be confirmed on November 7,after which talks on forming a government will begin.
Analysts caution that this process could take weeks or even months.
