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Close contest as Dutch cast votes Close contest as Dutch cast votes
(about 1 hour later)
Dutch voters have begun casting their ballots in parliamentary elections, with late opinion polls showing as many as 40% of them undecided. The Dutch are voting in parliamentary elections, with opinion polls showing as many as 40% of them undecided.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats are expected to emerge as the largest party. PM Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats are expected to emerge as the largest party, but the opposition Labour has been narrowing the gap.
But the opposition Labour Party has been narrowing the gap. Campaigning focused on welfare reforms rather than the outgoing government's tough stance on immigration.
Neither right nor left blocs are expected to win the 76 seats to secure a majority and talks to form a coalition could be protracted. Neither the right nor left blocs are expected to win the 76 seats to secure a majority.
Talks to form a coalition could be protracted.
Some experts say the Socialist Party's rise in the polls show a left-wing coalition could pose a real challenge to the centre-right coalition of the Christian Democrats (CDA) and liberals (VVD).Some experts say the Socialist Party's rise in the polls show a left-wing coalition could pose a real challenge to the centre-right coalition of the Christian Democrats (CDA) and liberals (VVD).
The CDA-led governing coalition collapsed in June after a row over its handling of the disputed citizenship of a Somali-born Dutch politician.The CDA-led governing coalition collapsed in June after a row over its handling of the disputed citizenship of a Somali-born Dutch politician.
Polling stations close at 2000 GMT with unofficial exit poll results expected immediately and partial results an hour later. Some 10,000 polling stations opened at 0630 GMT and will close at 2000 GMT. Unofficial exit poll results are expected immediately and partial results an hour later.
Some 12 million people are eligible to elect the 150-member lower house parliament. The MPs are elected for a four-year period by proportional representation.
ImmigrationImmigration
In a live TV debate on the eve of the election, the party leaders focused mainly on welfare reforms rather than immigration.In a live TV debate on the eve of the election, the party leaders focused mainly on welfare reforms rather than immigration.
Dutch voters in Amsterdam give their views on the electionsIn pictures The immigration issue had gripped Dutch politics since the high-profile murders of two prominent campaigners against Muslim extremism - independent politician Pim Fortuyn and film-maker Theo van Gogh. Dutch voters in Amsterdam give their views on the electionsIn pictures
The immigration issue had gripped Dutch politics since the high-profile murders of two prominent campaigners against Muslim extremism - independent politician Pim Fortuyn and film-maker Theo van Gogh.
On Friday, the cabinet backed a proposal to ban face-covering clothing, including the burqa worn by some Muslim women.On Friday, the cabinet backed a proposal to ban face-covering clothing, including the burqa worn by some Muslim women.
The main parties have both embraced pro-integration policies - a departure from the Dutch tradition of multiculturalism.The main parties have both embraced pro-integration policies - a departure from the Dutch tradition of multiculturalism.
Mr Balkenende has also been claiming credit for a strong economic recovery in the country in the past few years.Mr Balkenende has also been claiming credit for a strong economic recovery in the country in the past few years.
"I am very proud of the results and I really hope that people will recognise this and that we can go on with these successful type of policies," Mr Balkenende told reporters as he voted.
Labour leader Wouter Bos hopes his party will be able to successfully challenge the CDA or at least force its way into a so-called grand coalition.Labour leader Wouter Bos hopes his party will be able to successfully challenge the CDA or at least force its way into a so-called grand coalition.
However, the BBC's Sam Wilson in Amsterdam says polls suggest that many left-wing voters dissatisfied with the government's spending cuts seem ready to turn to the Socialist Party rather than Labour, whom they believe sound too willing to jump into a coalition bed with the CDA.However, the BBC's Sam Wilson in Amsterdam says polls suggest that many left-wing voters dissatisfied with the government's spending cuts seem ready to turn to the Socialist Party rather than Labour, whom they believe sound too willing to jump into a coalition bed with the CDA.
The latest projections give Mr Balkenende's CDA about 41 seats compared to about 38 for Labour.The latest projections give Mr Balkenende's CDA about 41 seats compared to about 38 for Labour.
But the uncertain voters could still make a big difference.But the uncertain voters could still make a big difference.
Some analysts think the Socialist Party could leap from nine seats to 23.Some analysts think the Socialist Party could leap from nine seats to 23.