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| Dutch election: Wilders defeat celebrated by PM Rutte | Dutch election: Wilders defeat celebrated by PM Rutte |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dutch people rejected "the wrong kind of populism", Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said, as he celebrated victory in Wednesday's election. | Dutch people rejected "the wrong kind of populism", Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said, as he celebrated victory in Wednesday's election. |
| "The Netherlands said 'Whoa!'" he declared after his centre-right VVD party's lead positioned him for a third successive term as prime minister. | "The Netherlands said 'Whoa!'" he declared after his centre-right VVD party's lead positioned him for a third successive term as prime minister. |
| With nearly all votes counted, his party easily beat the anti-immigration Freedom party of Geert Wilders. | With nearly all votes counted, his party easily beat the anti-immigration Freedom party of Geert Wilders. |
| Fellow eurozone countries France and Germany also face elections this year. | Fellow eurozone countries France and Germany also face elections this year. |
| The Dutch race was seen as a test of support for nationalist parties that have been gaining ground across Europe. | The Dutch race was seen as a test of support for nationalist parties that have been gaining ground across Europe. |
| Mr Wilders insisted "the patriotic spring" would still happen. | Mr Wilders insisted "the patriotic spring" would still happen. |
| The euro gained as the results pointed to a clear victory for the prime minister's party. | The euro gained as the results pointed to a clear victory for the prime minister's party. |
| How big is Rutte's win? | How big is Rutte's win? |
| With 95% of votes counted, the prime minister's party had won 33 out of 150 seats, a loss of eight seats from the previous parliament. | With 95% of votes counted, the prime minister's party had won 33 out of 150 seats, a loss of eight seats from the previous parliament. |
| The Freedom party was in second place on 20 seats, a gain of five, with the Christian Democrats (CDA) and the liberal D66 party close behind with 19 seats each. | The Freedom party was in second place on 20 seats, a gain of five, with the Christian Democrats (CDA) and the liberal D66 party close behind with 19 seats each. |
| The Green-Left party also did well, winning 14 seats, an increase of 10. | The Green-Left party also did well, winning 14 seats, an increase of 10. |
| The Labour Party (PvdA), the junior party in the governing coalition, suffered a historic defeat by winning only nine seats, a loss of 29. | |
| Turnout was more than 80%, the highest for 30 years, which analysts say may have benefited pro-EU and liberal parties. | Turnout was more than 80%, the highest for 30 years, which analysts say may have benefited pro-EU and liberal parties. |
| "We want to stick to the course we have - safe and stable and prosperous," Mr Rutte said. | "We want to stick to the course we have - safe and stable and prosperous," Mr Rutte said. |
| What does this mean for the EU? | What does this mean for the EU? |
| France goes to the polls next month to elect a new president, with the far right National Front forecast to increase its vote dramatically. | France goes to the polls next month to elect a new president, with the far right National Front forecast to increase its vote dramatically. |
| In Germany, the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) may win seats in parliament for the first time in September's general election. | In Germany, the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) may win seats in parliament for the first time in September's general election. |
| Mr Rutte's victory was warmly greeted by other European leaders and politicians: | Mr Rutte's victory was warmly greeted by other European leaders and politicians: |
| Where does Wilders stand now? | Where does Wilders stand now? |
| Weeks before the election, opinion polls forecast the PVV winning the biggest number of seats but Mr Wilders' lead vanished as the vote drew near. | Weeks before the election, opinion polls forecast the PVV winning the biggest number of seats but Mr Wilders' lead vanished as the vote drew near. |
| He had pledged to take the Netherlands out of the EU, close all mosques and ban the Koran. | He had pledged to take the Netherlands out of the EU, close all mosques and ban the Koran. |
| He warned that Mr Rutte had "not seen the last" of him. | He warned that Mr Rutte had "not seen the last" of him. |
| "It's not the 30 seats I hoped for but we have gained seats," he added. "This patriotic spring will happen." | "It's not the 30 seats I hoped for but we have gained seats," he added. "This patriotic spring will happen." |
| How long before a new government is formed? | How long before a new government is formed? |
| As parliamentary seats are allocated in exact proportion to a party's vote share, the VVD will need to go into coalition with three other parties. | As parliamentary seats are allocated in exact proportion to a party's vote share, the VVD will need to go into coalition with three other parties. |
| The VVD had ruled out a coalition with Mr Wilders' PVV, but not with the Christian Democrats and D66, which are both pro-EU. It would still be several seats short of forming a government and would need further support from a fourth party. | The VVD had ruled out a coalition with Mr Wilders' PVV, but not with the Christian Democrats and D66, which are both pro-EU. It would still be several seats short of forming a government and would need further support from a fourth party. |
| Coalition talks could take weeks, or even months. | Coalition talks could take weeks, or even months. |
| Latest results: | Latest results: |