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| Dutch election: PM Rutte sees off anti-EU Wilders challenge | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's party has won the most seats in parliamentary elections, exit polls say. | |
| His centre-right VVD Party won 31 out of 150 seats, polls suggest. | His centre-right VVD Party won 31 out of 150 seats, polls suggest. |
| His party came far ahead of the next three parties, including Geert Wilders' anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV), the Christian Democrats and the D66 Party, which each got 19 seats. | His party came far ahead of the next three parties, including Geert Wilders' anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV), the Christian Democrats and the D66 Party, which each got 19 seats. |
| Mr Wilders' party had been leading in opinion polls but support for the party appeared to slip in recent days. | Mr Wilders' party had been leading in opinion polls but support for the party appeared to slip in recent days. |
| Voter participation in the general election was high - with an estimated turnout of at least 81%. | |
| Analysts say a high turnout may have benefited pro-EU and liberal parties. | Analysts say a high turnout may have benefited pro-EU and liberal parties. |
| A campaign leader for Mr Rutte's party said the voters had given "trust again" to the VVD. | A campaign leader for Mr Rutte's party said the voters had given "trust again" to the VVD. |
| Although the VVD had lost several seats since the last election, many had expected the party to lose much more ground to the Freedom Party. | |
| Many had been watching the vote in the Netherlands closely, as an indication for how populist parties may fare in other elections in EU countries. | Many had been watching the vote in the Netherlands closely, as an indication for how populist parties may fare in other elections in EU countries. |
| France goes to the polls next month to elect a new president, while Germany is due to hold a general election in September. | France goes to the polls next month to elect a new president, while Germany is due to hold a general election in September. |
| Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament until earlier this year, said he was "relieved" Mr Wilders' party had lost. | Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament until earlier this year, said he was "relieved" Mr Wilders' party had lost. |
| "We must continue to fight for an open and free Europe!" he added on Twitter (in German). | "We must continue to fight for an open and free Europe!" he added on Twitter (in German). |
| However, Mr Wilders warned that Mr Rutte "has not seen the last of me". | |
| He previously said that the "patriotic revolution" would continue to take place, and "the genie will not go back into the bottle". | He previously said that the "patriotic revolution" would continue to take place, and "the genie will not go back into the bottle". |
| Champagne but no fizz: Anna Holligan, BBC News, the Hague | Champagne but no fizz: Anna Holligan, BBC News, the Hague |
| Pharrell Williams' song Happy pumped out across a conference hall converted to host the victorious VVD. | Pharrell Williams' song Happy pumped out across a conference hall converted to host the victorious VVD. |
| "Of course he'll still be prime minister," a loyal party member with black rimmed glasses told us. "He's the best man for the job." | "Of course he'll still be prime minister," a loyal party member with black rimmed glasses told us. "He's the best man for the job." |
| Entry to the gathering was invitation only. Most of the foreign press were contained in a side room. The champagne was flowing but there wasn't much fizz. The mild-mannered, measured Mark Rutte appears to have been given a mandate. | |
| He will say he stopped the "dominos of populism" from falling, but to do that he shifted himself to occupy the populists' territory, talking tough on immigration and integration. | He will say he stopped the "dominos of populism" from falling, but to do that he shifted himself to occupy the populists' territory, talking tough on immigration and integration. |
| As parliamentary seats are allocated in exact proportion to a party's vote share, the VVD party will need to go into coalition with other parties. | As parliamentary seats are allocated in exact proportion to a party's vote share, the VVD party will need to go into coalition with other parties. |
| The VVD had ruled out a coalition with the Freedom Party - but not the other two runners-up, the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party, and the Democrats 66 (D66) party, which are both pro-EU. | |
| The CDA said it was delighted with its election result and looked forward to helping form a coalition. | |
| The VVD will need at least three other parties before it can secure a majority. | The VVD will need at least three other parties before it can secure a majority. |
| Hence, the other smaller parties will be seen as potential power-brokers. | Hence, the other smaller parties will be seen as potential power-brokers. |
| Exit polls suggest the Green-Left party performed strongly, winning a total of 16 seats, while the Socialist Party took 14. | Exit polls suggest the Green-Left party performed strongly, winning a total of 16 seats, while the Socialist Party took 14. |
| The VVD's previous coalition partner, the Labour Party, saw its number of seats plunge from 38 to nine. | The VVD's previous coalition partner, the Labour Party, saw its number of seats plunge from 38 to nine. |
| Analysts said it appeared to have been punished for its role in the coalition government, where it helped pass austerity measures. | Analysts said it appeared to have been punished for its role in the coalition government, where it helped pass austerity measures. |
| Party leader Lodewijk Asscher called it "a bitter evening for labour - unbelievably disappointing". | |
| "Rebuilding the party begins today," he said. | |
| Exit poll results: | Exit poll results: |