Dutch Centrist Liberals Lead in Tight Election

The Dutch centrist liberals, led by 38-year-old Rob Jetten, are neck and neck with the anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders' Freedom Party in the Dutch election, with both parties projected to win 26 seats in the 150-member parliament. The election was highly contested, with five parties in the running to win. Despite Wilders leading the polls throughout the campaign, his party lost 11 seats compared to the previous election. Jetten's party, D66, staged a remarkable campaign, with polished performances in TV debates and interviews, which helped to boost their public profile. The result is seen as a surprise, with D66 going from 12 seats in the polls just a few weeks ago to being in contention to win the most seats. The election was fought on issues such as migration and the chronic housing shortage in the Netherlands.

The article discusses Rob Jetten, a 38-year-old Dutch politician who is tipped to become the youngest Dutch prime minister. Jetten has achieved significant success with his socially liberal D66 party, taking it from fifth place to the top of Dutch politics in less than two years. He has been praised for his positive message and charismatic leadership style, which resonated with voters. Jetten's background, including his experience as climate minister under Mark Rutte and his personal life as an openly gay man, is also highlighted. The article notes that Jetten faces significant challenges, including tackling the Netherlands' housing crisis, and will need to deliver on his big promises to succeed.

The Netherlands general election has seen a significant shift away from the far-right party led by Geert Wilders, with the centrist D66 party projected to win the most seats according to an exit poll. D66 leader Rob Jetten is set to become the country's youngest ever prime minister and its first openly gay prime minister. Wilders' party, which won the most seats in the previous election, is expected to lose seats, dealing a blow to his anti-Islam stance and hardline immigration policies. Jetten has campaigned on a platform of resolving the housing shortage, investing in education, and tackling immigration while supporting Ukraine, NATO, and the EU. The election outcome is seen as a significant test for Europe's far-right movements, with Jetten stating that it shows it is possible to 'beat populist and extreme right movements'.