D66 Edges PVV in Dutch Election

Centrist D66 surged in the Dutch election and its leader Rob Jetten is on track to become prime minister after ANP/NOS projections gave D66 a razor‑thin lead of roughly 15,000 votes over Geert Wilders’ PVV, leaving both parties at about 26 seats. D66 could reach 27 seats once overseas and postal ballots are tallied, but the final outcome still awaits certification by the Electoral Council. The result reflects a near‑tripling of D66’s parliamentary presence and a setback for Wilders from his 2023 high. Forming a government will require a complex coalition of at least three partners to reach a 76‑seat majority in the 150‑seat House. Most mainstream parties have ruled out joining a PVV‑led government after Wilders’ role in the previous coalition’s collapse, leaving D66 to seek like‑minded centre‑left and centre‑right partners such as the VVD, CDA and the Labour/Green bloc.