Despite a childcare benefits scandal that led to the resignation of the government en masse, much-criticised delays in its vaccination programme and national riots over a coronavirus curfew, the status quo will remain largely intact after a general election in the Netherlands.
With nearly nine in ten votes counted, it looks almost certain that ‘caretaker’ prime minister Mark Rutte will be building a new coalition government and leading the country for a fourth time. His People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is expected to win another two seats, taking his total to 35 out of the 150 places in the lower house.
Other big winners of the election are the D66 liberal democrats, led by Sigrid Kaag on a mantra of ‘new leadership’, freedom, equal chances and affordable housing. Kaag’s party increased their share of the vote from 19 to an expected 24 seats, displacing Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) as the second largest party in parliament.
The result shows clear signs of the public’s frustration with the ongoing lockdown
Despite the Dutch coronavirus measures, which have meant a 9pm to 4.30am
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