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| Dutch election: Mark Rutte's VVD party takes lead as vote count starts – live | Dutch election: Mark Rutte's VVD party takes lead as vote count starts – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.14am GMT | |
| 01:14 | |
| Jon Henley | |
| The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, and his liberal VVD party appear to have comfortably beaten the anti-Islam Freedom party of Geert Wilders to become the largest in the new parliament. | |
| “Our message to the Netherlands – that we will hold our course, and keep this country safe, stable and prosperous, got through,” Rutte told a cheering crowd of supporters at the VVD’s election night party. | |
| The eyes of Europe had been on the vote, he added. “Many European colleagues have called me this evening: this was an evening when after Brexit and Trump, the Netherlands said ‘Stop’ to the wrong sort of populism.” | |
| Wilders tweeted that since the VVD had lost seats and the PVV had gained, his party was “among the winners”, adding: “If all the losers like the VVD form a government, we need to have a strong opposition of winners like the PVV.” | |
| The leftwing environmentalists of GreenLeft looked the big winners of the night, as the party was forecast to quadruple its number of MPs to 16. But the social democratic Labour party (PvdA), Rutte’s outgoing coalition partner, was forecast to slump to a historic low of nine seats from 38 in the current parliament. | |
| The projected result would leave Rutte with a choice of coalition options, although coalition-building – with four parties likely to be needed – could take months: the average in the Netherlands is three months and the record more than 200 days. | |
| 1.01am GMT | |
| 01:01 | |
| Juncker: 'A vote against extremists' | |
| Margaritis Schinas, spokesperson for the EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, says Juncker has spoken to the Netherlands’ incumbent PM, Mark Rutte, congratulating him on his “clear victory”: | |
| A vote for Europe, a vote against extremists. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.01am GMT | |
| 12.52am GMT | 12.52am GMT |
| 00:52 | 00:52 |
| With 50% of votes counted, here’s how it stands, with VVD still holding a convincing lead: | With 50% of votes counted, here’s how it stands, with VVD still holding a convincing lead: |
| Netherlands (50% counted):VVD-ALDE: 21.5%PVV-ENF 13%CDA-EPP 12.5%D66-ALDE 11.9%GL-G/EFA 9.3%SP-LEFT 9.3%#DutchElections #TK17 pic.twitter.com/zZQ2zYnSPQ | Netherlands (50% counted):VVD-ALDE: 21.5%PVV-ENF 13%CDA-EPP 12.5%D66-ALDE 11.9%GL-G/EFA 9.3%SP-LEFT 9.3%#DutchElections #TK17 pic.twitter.com/zZQ2zYnSPQ |
| 12.42am GMT | 12.42am GMT |
| 00:42 | 00:42 |
| French president François Hollande is congratulating Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for his election success and his “clear victory against extremism”, Associated Press reports: | French president François Hollande is congratulating Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for his election success and his “clear victory against extremism”, Associated Press reports: |
| After Rutte’s party soundly beat the party of anti-immigrant populist Geert Wilders, Hollande said in a statement early Thursday: | After Rutte’s party soundly beat the party of anti-immigrant populist Geert Wilders, Hollande said in a statement early Thursday: |
| The values of openness, respect for others, and a faith in Europe’s future are the only true response to the nationalist impulses and isolationism that are shaking the world.” | The values of openness, respect for others, and a faith in Europe’s future are the only true response to the nationalist impulses and isolationism that are shaking the world.” |
| France is facing a presidential election starting next month in which far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who wants to leave the European Union and sharply curb immigration, is expected to make a strong showing. | France is facing a presidential election starting next month in which far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who wants to leave the European Union and sharply curb immigration, is expected to make a strong showing. |
| Both Rutte and Wilders had painted Wednesday’s Dutch election as a battle between established politics and populist ideas. | Both Rutte and Wilders had painted Wednesday’s Dutch election as a battle between established politics and populist ideas. |
| French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the result was good for a “stronger Europe”: | French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the result was good for a “stronger Europe”: |
| Félicitations aux Néerlandais d'avoir enrayé la montée de l'extrême droite. Volonté de travailler à une Europe plus forte. | Félicitations aux Néerlandais d'avoir enrayé la montée de l'extrême droite. Volonté de travailler à une Europe plus forte. |
| 12.35am GMT | 12.35am GMT |
| 00:35 | 00:35 |
| Geert Wilders has left the building: | Geert Wilders has left the building: |
| Dat was Wilders #TK17 pic.twitter.com/el8HbLTI3E | Dat was Wilders #TK17 pic.twitter.com/el8HbLTI3E |
| 12.20am GMT | 12.20am GMT |
| 00:20 | 00:20 |
| Wilders: 'We're among the winners' | Wilders: 'We're among the winners' |
| Geert Wilders – whose far-right PVV has not performed as well as he, or polls, expected – has said he would be willing to enter coalition talks. (All main parties have said they will not go into coalition with PVV, and it currently doesn’t look as if the first-placed VVD will need Wilders.) | Geert Wilders – whose far-right PVV has not performed as well as he, or polls, expected – has said he would be willing to enter coalition talks. (All main parties have said they will not go into coalition with PVV, and it currently doesn’t look as if the first-placed VVD will need Wilders.) |
| Geert Wilders says he is ready to join a coalition. But if that does not happen, 'we will form a strong opposition over the next five years' | Geert Wilders says he is ready to join a coalition. But if that does not happen, 'we will form a strong opposition over the next five years' |
| Wilders: 'I'd preferred to have been the winner of the elections, but the VVD have lost 10 seats and we're among the winners in second.' | Wilders: 'I'd preferred to have been the winner of the elections, but the VVD have lost 10 seats and we're among the winners in second.' |
| Wilders calls Rutte's comments on 'the wrong sort of populism' 'very worrying, as if populists are semi-Nazis'. | Wilders calls Rutte's comments on 'the wrong sort of populism' 'very worrying, as if populists are semi-Nazis'. |
| Wilders: 'If all the losers like the VVD form a government, we need to have a strong opposition of winners like the PVV.' | Wilders: 'If all the losers like the VVD form a government, we need to have a strong opposition of winners like the PVV.' |
| 12.13am GMT | 12.13am GMT |
| 00:13 | 00:13 |
| With 28% of votes counted, here’s how the projection of seats won stands: | With 28% of votes counted, here’s how the projection of seats won stands: |
| VVD 32 seats | VVD 32 seats |
| Christian Democrats 20 | Christian Democrats 20 |
| PVV (Wilders’ Freedom party) 19 | PVV (Wilders’ Freedom party) 19 |
| Democrats 66 18 | Democrats 66 18 |
| GreenLeft 14 | GreenLeft 14 |
| SP 14 | SP 14 |
| PvdA (Labour) 10 | PvdA (Labour) 10 |
| 12.06am GMT | 12.06am GMT |
| 00:06 | 00:06 |
| Jon Henley | Jon Henley |
| The Dutch poll differed from Trump’s election and the Brexit referendum. Those were one-on-one, winner-take-all contests for which the victor needed 50% – or in the US poll, very nearly 50% – of the vote. | The Dutch poll differed from Trump’s election and the Brexit referendum. Those were one-on-one, winner-take-all contests for which the victor needed 50% – or in the US poll, very nearly 50% – of the vote. |
| The result in the Netherlands was always going to be a coalition of at least four, possibly five, parties that will take months to form and have to govern by compromise and consensus. And all main parties had vowed not to work with Wilders. | The result in the Netherlands was always going to be a coalition of at least four, possibly five, parties that will take months to form and have to govern by compromise and consensus. And all main parties had vowed not to work with Wilders. |
| So even if Geert Wilders’ PVV had ended up as the largest party, it would almost certainly have been locked out of government. | So even if Geert Wilders’ PVV had ended up as the largest party, it would almost certainly have been locked out of government. |
| Even if it had not been, in order to pass new legislation it would have needed, as well as the lower house, the Dutch senate on board – where it currently has nine out of 75 seats. | Even if it had not been, in order to pass new legislation it would have needed, as well as the lower house, the Dutch senate on board – where it currently has nine out of 75 seats. |
| Wilders may prompt comparisons with Trump and Brexit – in hairstyle, campaign slogan (“Take our country back”), presentation and predilection for Twitter – but it was never clear how much of his programme he could have implemented in practice. | Wilders may prompt comparisons with Trump and Brexit – in hairstyle, campaign slogan (“Take our country back”), presentation and predilection for Twitter – but it was never clear how much of his programme he could have implemented in practice. |
| Nor were the Dutch likely to vote to leave the EU any time soon. The prospect of a “Nexit” referendum had gained currency abroad, but the other parties would not have backed it and there is no evidence a majority of voters would either. | Nor were the Dutch likely to vote to leave the EU any time soon. The prospect of a “Nexit” referendum had gained currency abroad, but the other parties would not have backed it and there is no evidence a majority of voters would either. |
| The far right in France and Germany would, certainly, have hailed a Wilders win as a nativist, anti-establishment triumph. | The far right in France and Germany would, certainly, have hailed a Wilders win as a nativist, anti-establishment triumph. |
| But despite loudly welcoming both Brexit and Trump as the beginning of a “patriotic revolution”, the Front National in France and AfD in Germany saw no improvement in their polling afterwards. | But despite loudly welcoming both Brexit and Trump as the beginning of a “patriotic revolution”, the Front National in France and AfD in Germany saw no improvement in their polling afterwards. |
| 11.55pm GMT | 11.55pm GMT |
| 23:55 | 23:55 |
| This projection of seats won, courtesy of Die Zeit and not a final tally, puts Rutte’s VVD on 33 seats, with the Christian Democrats in second place. | This projection of seats won, courtesy of Die Zeit and not a final tally, puts Rutte’s VVD on 33 seats, with the Christian Democrats in second place. |
| Wilders’ PVV shares third spot with Democrats 66 – but PVV is unlikely to be part of any coalition negotiations, with all major parties pledging not to work with the far-right party. | Wilders’ PVV shares third spot with Democrats 66 – but PVV is unlikely to be part of any coalition negotiations, with all major parties pledging not to work with the far-right party. |
| Die erste Hochrechnung ist da! Alle Informationen zur Wahl finden Sie in unserem Live Blog: https://t.co/7RJFHugxkO #DutchElection pic.twitter.com/h2miUk3VwN | Die erste Hochrechnung ist da! Alle Informationen zur Wahl finden Sie in unserem Live Blog: https://t.co/7RJFHugxkO #DutchElection pic.twitter.com/h2miUk3VwN |
| 11.47pm GMT | 11.47pm GMT |
| 23:47 | 23:47 |
| Before coalition negotiations begin on Thursday morning, incumbent PM – and likely next PM – Mark Rutte has some other business to attend to: teaching. | Before coalition negotiations begin on Thursday morning, incumbent PM – and likely next PM – Mark Rutte has some other business to attend to: teaching. |
| Question to Rutte: What is first thing you'll do tomorrow? "Teach." (He moonlights as a secondary school teacher in the Hague - true story). | Question to Rutte: What is first thing you'll do tomorrow? "Teach." (He moonlights as a secondary school teacher in the Hague - true story). |
| 11.40pm GMT | 11.40pm GMT |
| 23:40 | 23:40 |
| This visual shows the shift in voting in Amsterdam, where GreenLeft (GL) has surged to become the biggest winner – and Labour (PvdA) the biggest loser: | This visual shows the shift in voting in Amsterdam, where GreenLeft (GL) has surged to become the biggest winner – and Labour (PvdA) the biggest loser: |
| Result from Amsterdam is in. GreenLeft and D66 largest parties, huge blow for Labour there. Large Muslim population pushes Denk to 7.5% pic.twitter.com/uQj30m8fm8 | Result from Amsterdam is in. GreenLeft and D66 largest parties, huge blow for Labour there. Large Muslim population pushes Denk to 7.5% pic.twitter.com/uQj30m8fm8 |
| 11.30pm GMT | 11.30pm GMT |
| 23:30 | 23:30 |
| Carmen Fishwick | Carmen Fishwick |
| I’ve been speaking to supporters of GroenLinks (Green-Left), who quadrupled their MPs from four to 16. The party’s charismatic leader is being hailed as “Jessiah”, with similarities to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. | I’ve been speaking to supporters of GroenLinks (Green-Left), who quadrupled their MPs from four to 16. The party’s charismatic leader is being hailed as “Jessiah”, with similarities to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. |
| They are realistic, instead of optimistic like the other left-wing parties | They are realistic, instead of optimistic like the other left-wing parties |
| I hope their plans to raise the taxes for cars but lower the cost of public transport – as well as make it more accessible – happen. Also, their plans to lower the cost of university and increase financial aid. And the use of alternative energy sources. | I hope their plans to raise the taxes for cars but lower the cost of public transport – as well as make it more accessible – happen. Also, their plans to lower the cost of university and increase financial aid. And the use of alternative energy sources. |
| Jesse Klaver is trustworthy, young and dynamic. They are rather realistic, instead of optimistic like the other left-wing parties. | Jesse Klaver is trustworthy, young and dynamic. They are rather realistic, instead of optimistic like the other left-wing parties. |
| – Eva,18, foreign language student in France, with Dutch nationality | – Eva,18, foreign language student in France, with Dutch nationality |
| I hope they can make sure we keep investing in foreign aid | I hope they can make sure we keep investing in foreign aid |
| I hope they make sure the next government invests more into renewable energy, that we keep investing in foreign aid, which is much more effective in dealing with the refugee problem than closing the borders. | I hope they make sure the next government invests more into renewable energy, that we keep investing in foreign aid, which is much more effective in dealing with the refugee problem than closing the borders. |
| I have mixed feelings about Klaver. Yes, he is a new impulse and he has a nice story to tell – young, son of a Moroccan father, worked hard – but it feels like he is using this story a bit too much. He is trying a bit too hard to be the new Dutch Obama or Trudeau. | I have mixed feelings about Klaver. Yes, he is a new impulse and he has a nice story to tell – young, son of a Moroccan father, worked hard – but it feels like he is using this story a bit too much. He is trying a bit too hard to be the new Dutch Obama or Trudeau. |
| – Stef, 21, university student, Tilburg | – Stef, 21, university student, Tilburg |
| This election may determine whether we become the UK and US, or if we maintain our progressive values | This election may determine whether we become the UK and US, or if we maintain our progressive values |
| Groenlinks is one of the few parties with fresh ideas. It has a young face and stands for tolerance and European integration, which are the most important things to cling to in the current political climate. | Groenlinks is one of the few parties with fresh ideas. It has a young face and stands for tolerance and European integration, which are the most important things to cling to in the current political climate. |
| I want the Netherlands to be part of the EU, in which people live together in peace instead of spreading hate. Everyone is allowed to say what they want and believe what they want, up to the point where it insults other members of society. | I want the Netherlands to be part of the EU, in which people live together in peace instead of spreading hate. Everyone is allowed to say what they want and believe what they want, up to the point where it insults other members of society. |
| This election may determine whether we become the UK and US, or if we maintain our progressive values of tolerance and harmony. | This election may determine whether we become the UK and US, or if we maintain our progressive values of tolerance and harmony. |
| – Vlad, 19, student, living in Leiden | – Vlad, 19, student, living in Leiden |
| 11.19pm GMT | 11.19pm GMT |
| 23:19 | 23:19 |
| Our reporter Gordon Darroch, in the Hague, has some totting-up of seats and possible coalitions: | Our reporter Gordon Darroch, in the Hague, has some totting-up of seats and possible coalitions: |
| Projection based on early results (9%) gives VVD 33 seats and CDA 25. Would have enough for a majority with D66's 18 seats. | Projection based on early results (9%) gives VVD 33 seats and CDA 25. Would have enough for a majority with D66's 18 seats. |
| Negotiations to form a multi-party coalition to get that parliamentary majority will begin on Thursday and could continue for some time. | Negotiations to form a multi-party coalition to get that parliamentary majority will begin on Thursday and could continue for some time. |
| 11.02pm GMT | 11.02pm GMT |
| 23:02 | 23:02 |
| This is Claire Phipps picking up the live blog as it ticks over into Thursday in the Netherlands. | This is Claire Phipps picking up the live blog as it ticks over into Thursday in the Netherlands. |
| We have results from Amsterdam, where GreenLeft has come out on top: | We have results from Amsterdam, where GreenLeft has come out on top: |
| Netherlands (#Amsterdam), result:GL (G/EFA): 19.3%D66 (ALDE): 18.2VVD (ALDE): 15.2PvdA (S&D): 8.4DENK (*): 7.5PVV (ENF): 7#TK17 | Netherlands (#Amsterdam), result:GL (G/EFA): 19.3%D66 (ALDE): 18.2VVD (ALDE): 15.2PvdA (S&D): 8.4DENK (*): 7.5PVV (ENF): 7#TK17 |
| 10.49pm GMT | 10.49pm GMT |
| 22:49 | 22:49 |
| I’m handing over this liveblog to my colleague Claire Phipps now, who will keep you posted with live results and reaction from the 2017 Dutch election as we get them. | I’m handing over this liveblog to my colleague Claire Phipps now, who will keep you posted with live results and reaction from the 2017 Dutch election as we get them. |
| Thanks for reading and being with us tonight. Or as GreenLeft might put it: | Thanks for reading and being with us tonight. Or as GreenLeft might put it: |
| Iedereen die deze campagne geholpen heeft: DANKJEWEL!Bouw mee aan onze beweging 👉 https://t.co/1pES0ksQpC. pic.twitter.com/erWHyopJZ5 | Iedereen die deze campagne geholpen heeft: DANKJEWEL!Bouw mee aan onze beweging 👉 https://t.co/1pES0ksQpC. pic.twitter.com/erWHyopJZ5 |
| 10.42pm GMT | 10.42pm GMT |
| 22:42 | 22:42 |
| Angela Merkel congratulates Rutte | Angela Merkel congratulates Rutte |
| German chancellor Angela Merkel has congratulated Mark Rutte on his party’s strong showing in the 2017 election in a telephone conversation. According to Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert, she said: | German chancellor Angela Merkel has congratulated Mark Rutte on his party’s strong showing in the 2017 election in a telephone conversation. According to Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert, she said: |
| I look forward to working with you as friends, neighbours and Europeans. | I look forward to working with you as friends, neighbours and Europeans. |
| Kanzlerin #Merkel hat @markrutte telefonisch gratuliert. "Ich freue mich auf weiter gute Zusammenarbeit als Freunde, Nachbarn, Europäer." | Kanzlerin #Merkel hat @markrutte telefonisch gratuliert. "Ich freue mich auf weiter gute Zusammenarbeit als Freunde, Nachbarn, Europäer." |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.59pm GMT | at 10.59pm GMT |
| 10.39pm GMT | 10.39pm GMT |
| 22:39 | 22:39 |
| GreenLeft leader hailed as the "Jessiah" | GreenLeft leader hailed as the "Jessiah" |
| Jon Henley | Jon Henley |
| Jon Henley has this piece from the night on the surprise gains for the GreenLeft. | Jon Henley has this piece from the night on the surprise gains for the GreenLeft. |
| The big winner of Wednesday’s Dutch election – and now the largest party of the left for the first time – was GreenLeft, headed by 30-year-old Jesse Klaver, hailed by his enthusiastic supporters as the “Jessiah”. | The big winner of Wednesday’s Dutch election – and now the largest party of the left for the first time – was GreenLeft, headed by 30-year-old Jesse Klaver, hailed by his enthusiastic supporters as the “Jessiah”. |
| According to a generally reliable Ipsos exit poll, the party, formed 25 years ago by a merger of communists, pacifists, evangelicals and self-styled radicals, quadrupled its MPs from four to 16 after a storming campaign by Klaver. | According to a generally reliable Ipsos exit poll, the party, formed 25 years ago by a merger of communists, pacifists, evangelicals and self-styled radicals, quadrupled its MPs from four to 16 after a storming campaign by Klaver. |
| “This is a fantastic result for us, a historic victory,” said the GreenLeft chairwoman, Marjolein Meijer. The result showed there was “very fertile ground in the Netherlands for change and a positive and hopeful story,” she said. “For us this is just the start.” | “This is a fantastic result for us, a historic victory,” said the GreenLeft chairwoman, Marjolein Meijer. The result showed there was “very fertile ground in the Netherlands for change and a positive and hopeful story,” she said. “For us this is just the start.” |
| The party celebrated its historic advance with a tweet showing a gif of Kermit the Frog dancing for joy. | The party celebrated its historic advance with a tweet showing a gif of Kermit the Frog dancing for joy. |