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| Dutch election: PM Rutte sees off anti-EU Wilders challenge | Dutch election: PM Rutte sees off anti-EU Wilders challenge |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's party has won the most seats in parliamentary elections, exit polls say. | Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's party has won the most seats in parliamentary elections, exit polls say. |
| Early results confirmed the exit polls, with his centre-right VVD Party on course for 31 out of 150 seats. | Early results confirmed the exit polls, with his centre-right VVD Party on course for 31 out of 150 seats. |
| Three parties are projected to win 19 seats each: Geert Wilders' anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV), the Christian Democrats and the D66 party. | |
| 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. |
| With 10.9% of votes counted early on Thursday, the VVD had polled 17.8%. | With 10.9% of votes counted early on Thursday, the VVD had polled 17.8%. |
| Voter participation in the general election was high; the 81% turnout was the highest for 30 years. | Voter participation in the general election was high; the 81% turnout was the highest for 30 years. |
| 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. |
| "Today was a celebration of democracy," Mr Rutte said, adding that the Netherlands had said no to the "wrong kind of populism". | "Today was a celebration of democracy," Mr Rutte said, adding that the Netherlands had said no to the "wrong kind of populism". |
| 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. | 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. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called Mr Rutte to congratulate him, while Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has also tweeted his congratulations. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called Mr Rutte to congratulate him, while Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has also tweeted his congratulations. |
| 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". | 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. | 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 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 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, compared to four in the last parliament. | Exit polls suggest the Green-Left party performed strongly, winning a total of 16 seats, compared to four in the last parliament. |
| Meanwhile, the Socialist Party took 14 seats, while the VVD's previous coalition partner, the Labour Party, saw its number of seats plunge from 38 to nine. | Meanwhile, the Socialist Party took 14 seats, while 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". | Party leader Lodewijk Asscher called it "a bitter evening for labour - unbelievably disappointing". |
| "Rebuilding the party begins today," he said. | "Rebuilding the party begins today," he said. |
| Exit poll results: | Exit poll results: |