Centrist D66 Party Leads Dutch Election Exit Poll, Potential Historic Comeback

Exit polls from the recent Dutch snap general election indicate a strong performance by the liberal-progressive Democrats 66 (D66) party, which is poised to become the largest party in parliament with approximately 27 seats. Led by Rob Jetten, who could become the Netherlands' youngest and first openly gay prime minister, D66's surge marks a significant comeback from just nine seats in the previous election. Meanwhile, the far-right Freedom Party, led by Geert Wilders, is expected to lose about a third of its seats, dropping from 37 to around 25, reflecting voter disillusionment with the previous conservative coalition government. Other parties such as the centre-left GreenLeft/Labour alliance and the Christian Democrats made mixed gains, with the former losing seats and the latter nearly quadrupling theirs. The election results are viewed as a rejection of populism and a shift towards centrist politics amid broader European concerns about extremist gains. Final results are still awaited, but the exit polls suggest a fragmented parliament with multiple parties close behind the frontrunners.