The final exit polls in the Netherlands confirm the advantage of the Labour-Green coalition led by Frans Timmermans over the far right of Geert Wilders in the European elections. In line with what was indicated by the first exit polls released immediately after the polls closed, the pro-European alliance would be in the lead with 8 seats, compared to the 7 assigned to the Party for Freedom (PVV). For the anti-Islam and Eurosceptic leader, however, it is a clear victory compared to the only seat obtained in the previous European elections and subsequently lost after his only MEP moved to another party. Voter turnout, according to estimates released by Ipsos, was 47%, up from 42% five years ago. The game remains open and the outcome will only be understood on Sunday evening, with the real data from the ballot of all Twenty-seven. According to the final exit polls, the Labour-Green ticket would lose one seat overall compared to the current 9, slowing down the sovereignist wave predicted on the eve of the vote.
Behind the two main rivals, the right-wing liberals of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, led by Dilan Yesilgoz, follow with 4 seats (losing one seat compared to the 5 held in the last legislature). The Christian Democrats (CDA) would instead win 3 seats (-1) like the left-wing liberals D66 (+1). The Farmers’ Movement (BBB) would enter the European Chamber for the first time, obtaining 2 seats, as would Wilders’ other government allies, Pieter Omtzigt’s centrists, who would however only have one seat. However, the Forum for Democracy (FvD) led by populist leader Thierry Baudet is out of the running: initially given one seat, according to the new exit polls the party would suffer a resounding debacle, losing all four of its current seats in Strasbourg.
