Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) witnessed a significant lead in Dutch elections on Thursday, clinching the challenge against far-right leader Geert Wilders in a huge relief to the European Union governments.
There were strong speculations of Wilder’s anti-Islamic Party for Freedom (PVV) winning the Dutch elections, considering the sweeping nationalistic and anti-immigrant wave which resulted in Brexit and Donald Trump’s win in the US elections last year. Europe was closely watching the Dutch elections, which was seen as a bellwether for the continent’s political future.
The Dutch polls conducted early in the month showed Rutte’s VVD and Wilders’ PVV going neck and neck in the general elections. However, Rutte has emerged as the clear winner in the battle, and it appears he owes a thank you note to Turkey for his victory.
With almost 95 percent of votes counted, Rutte’s VVD Party is projected to win 33 of parliament’s 150 seats, ahead of Wilders who is in second place at 20 seats. The Christian Democrat CDA is third with 19 seats, according to ANP Dutch news agency’s data.
Although the official results of the elections will be released on March 21, the seat numbers are a good indication of the first three winning parties.
How did Turkey assist in Rutte’s win?
The Turkish President Erdogan put Rutte in advantage a few days before the Dutch elections. The Netherlands PM, who was called a weak leader who doesn’t take a strong stance on immigration, struck gold with the Turkey-Netherlands diplomatic feud, as he blocked the entry of two major Turkish ministers into the country.
Few days before the general polls, two Turkish ministers attempted to come to Netherlands to campaign for the upcoming Turkish referendum, despite the Dutch government asking them not to. Rutte revoked the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s flight permit to the country last week, citing his visit would cause law and order issues.
The Netherlands government, consisting of more than one party, backed the Prime Minister’s decision saying that there was a risk of Turkish political divisions spilling over into the European country’s own Turkish minority, which has both pro- and anti-Erdogan camps.
Following a backlash from Turkey and a threat to impose economic sanction on Netherlands, Rutte stood his ground and later blocked another Turkish minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya’s entry to Rotterdam. The minister had scheduled a visit to the port city to campaign for Erdogan among the Turkish expatriates residing in the Dutch country.
The move resulted in protests by Dutch Turks who waved Turkish flags outside the consulate in Rotterdam.
