In the EU elections, the green-left alliance just edges out the Wilders party.
The European election process has commenced, with Dutch residents being the initial ones to choose their representatives. Preliminary polls indicate that the left-leaning coalition spearheaded by Frans Timmermans, a former EU Commissioner, is edging ahead of Geert Wilders' conservative political party.
In the impending Dutch European election, a tightly contested outcome is forecast. A survey aired on public television on Thursday night predicts that the right-leaning Freedom Party (PVV) of Geert Wilders will secure seven seats, while the coalition of the Social Democratic Workers' Party and GreenLeft will claim eight of the 31 available seats. This red-green alliance is led by ex-EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans. The official results will be announced on Sunday evening.
Before, the PVV held the most significant position in parliamentary elections approximately half a year ago. Previously, this party had only had one seat in the European Parliament. Data from the institute Clingendael suggests that discontent with the EU is also on the rise in the Netherlands. While most citizens wish to stay within the Union, they also desire more autonomy. In the past, Wilders proposed the Dutch exit from the EU. On his party's European election platform, there is no advocacy for an "Nexit," but a pledge to switch up the EU from within. This strategy aligns with many other far-right European parties.
Unlike the six-day voting period in Estonia, the Dutch chose to hold their elections in one day. Irish and Czech residents will be able to cast their votes on Friday, followed by the remainder of the EU countries, including Germany, on Sunday. Reportedly, the electoral results will be unveiled on Sunday evening once all polling stations close. Six hundred and forty million eligible Union voters are due to decide who will join the 720-member European Parliament.
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In contrast to the predicted victory of Frans Timmermans' coalition in the Dutch European elections, Geert Wilders' right-wing populist party, the Freedom Party (PVV), emerged as a strong contender. Despite Wilders' past calls for a Dutch exit from the EU, his party's platform for the European elections does not advocate for an "Nexit."
