Leftist D66 Wins Dutch Elections, Beating Anti-Islam PVV, Exit Poll Shows

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – Rob Jetten appeared on his way to becoming the Netherlands’ first openly gay prime minister after his left-leaning Democrats 66 (D66) party defeated the anti-Islam Party for Freedom (PVV) of firebrand politician Geert Wilders in Wednesday’s parliamentary elections, according to exit polls.

D66, led by the 38-year-old Jetten, was projected to win 27 seats in the 150-seat Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber), the main legislative branch of the Dutch Parliament, followed by the PVV with 25 seats, according to the Ipsos exit poll for Dutch broadcasters.

“We did it!” Jetten said. “Today we achieved D66’s best result ever, and we may well be the largest party in the country. The Netherlands has sent a very clear message. One thing is certain: millions of Dutch people have turned the page today,” he added.

“We have said goodbye to negativity and chosen positive politics. It’s time for politics, positivity, and looking ahead.”

The crowd reacted enthusiastically, chanting: “It’s possible! It’s possible!”

The liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) was expected to gain 23 seats, the GreenLeft–Labour alliance (GroenLinks–PvdA) 20, and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) 19, the poll showed.
The exit poll suggested that D66, a pro-European Union party, could form a coalition government with liberal, left-wing, and possibly Christian-democratic parties — but not with the PVV, which D66 and other mainstream parties have ruled out over its anti-immigration and anti-Islam stance.

REMARKABLE COMEBACK

If confirmed, the result would mark a remarkable comeback for D66, which had struggled in recent years amid internal divisions and disputes over climate policy, and a personal breakthrough for Jetten, who took over party leadership in 2023 after years as a rising progressive voice.

Rob Jetten could become the Netherlands’ first openly gay prime minister if exit-poll results are confirmed and he succeeds in forming a coalition.

PVV leader Geert Wilders, the fiercely pro-Israel and anti-Islam politician who had hoped to become the next prime minister and introduce tougher immigration restrictions, expressed disappointment over the outcome.

“The voter has spoken. We had hoped for a different outcome, but we have stood our ground. We are more determined than ever and still the second — and perhaps even the largest — party in the Netherlands,” he wrote on social media.

It was also a major setback for Frans Timmermans who announced his resignation as party leader of the GL/PvdA on Wednesday evening. “I have not succeeded in convincing enough people to vote for us,” said Timmermans on the results night. “It is time for me to step back and leave the leadership of our movement to a new generation.”

The former European Union commissioner returned from Brussels in 2023 to unite the left in hope to become prime minister. Earlier in 2019 Timnermans also failed in his efforts to be president of the EU’s executive European Commission.

The election followed months of political instability after the previous coalition collapsed in June 2025, when Wilders withdrew his PVV from government over disputes regarding asylum and migration policy.

LONG TALKS AHEAD

That move triggered early elections and reshaped the Dutch political landscape.

While Wednesday’s exit poll points to a narrow D66 victory, both leading parties remain within the margin of error, meaning the final result could still shift slightly once official votes are counted.

Coalition talks are expected to take weeks or even months, given the fragmented nature of the Dutch party system.

Attention will focus on whether D66 can secure common ground with the VVD, GroenLinks-PvdA, and the CDA on issues such as housing shortages, the green energy transition, and migration management.

As one of Europe’s most watched elections this year, the Dutch result is likely to influence broader EU debates on climate policy, immigration, and social inclusion — with Jetten’s D66 promising “a forward-looking, tolerant Netherlands rooted in European cooperation.”

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