This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6170444.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Dutch on course for split result Dutch on course for split result
(about 1 hour later)
Voting has ended in parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, with early exit polls suggest support split between the main parties. Partial results from the Dutch election show Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats ahead with 41 seats but short of a majority.
PM Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats were ahead of the opposition Labour party according to predictions, but short of a majority. If confirmed, Mr Balkenende will try first to form a coalition government but the process could be lengthy.
Neither the right nor left blocs were on course to win the 76 seats needed to control the 150-seat parliament.
Campaigning focused on welfare reforms rather than the outgoing government's tough stance on immigration.Campaigning focused on welfare reforms rather than the outgoing government's tough stance on immigration.
If early indications are confirmed, coalition talks could be protracted. The Christian Democrats (CDA) won 41 seats, according to figures from the Dutch Electoral Council.
Neither the right nor left blocs were on course to win the 76 seats needed to secure a majority. The opposition Labour party remained the second-biggest party with 33 seats.
The partnership in the outgoing coalition, the Christian Democrats (CDA) and the Liberals, would need to include several more parties to obtain a parliamentary majority. 'Monster coalition'
One television exit poll put the CDA on 38 seats to Labour's 34, while another gave the CDA 43 seats and Labour 35. The biggest gain was by the Socialists who added 16 seats to their previous total to occupy third place with 25 seats.
The Socialists' rise in the opinion polls appeared to be confirmed by a good result putting them in third place, with more than 20 seats. The Party for the Animals has won parliamentary representation
The CDA's coalition partners, the VVD, won 22 seats, the preliminary results showed, while the Party for Animals has taken two seats, a result which would make it the first animal rights party in a European parliament.
The split vote has already had people talking about protracted coalition talks, or even a "monster" coalition involving right and left, the BBC's Sam Wilson reports from Amsterdam.
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.
Some 12 million people were eligible to elect the 150-member lower house parliament. The MPs are elected for a four-year period by proportional representation.Some 12 million people were 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 picturesDutch 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.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."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 hoped his party will be able to successfully challenge the CDA or at least force its way into a grand coalition.