Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban states “the winds of change are here” following the release of the exit poll results. On Wednesday, right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders is expected to secure the most seats in parliamentary elections. An exit poll indicated that his Freedom Party won 35 seats, putting him ahead enough to be considered the next leader of the Netherlands. Mr. Wilders was seen celebrating the result in a video posted on his social media account. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban also congratulated Mr. Wilders on his win.
Mr. Wilders, known for his anti-Islam views, has pledged to curb “the asylum tsunami” and immigration to the Netherlands if he wins the parliamentary election. Frans Timmermans, leader of the Green-Labour alliance, stated he would not form a coalition with PVV, but Mr. Wilders remained confident that he could form a government this time.
The only time Mr. Wilders came close to governing was when he supported the first coalition formed by Prime Minister Mark Rutte in 2010. His anti-Islam rhetoric has made him a target for extremists and has led to him living under police protection for years. He has also appeared in court due to threats against him. To court mainstream voters this time around, Mr. Wilders toned down his anti-immigration rhetoric and focused on tackling issues such as housing shortages, cost-of-living crisis, and access to good healthcare.