In an election that is expected to bring about a new political era following Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s record 13 years in office, Dutch voters cast ballots on Wednesday in an unexpected election.
According to opinion polls, the outcome is far too close to call, with four candidates—one of them from the extreme right—having a good chance of winning the fifth-largest economy in the EU.
The Netherlands, which has a reputation for standing up for Ukraine and the eurozone’s budgetary restraint, tends to punch above its weight in the EU and on the international scene, so the vote is being eagerly monitored throughout Europe and beyond.
“For me, this is a bit of a different election because anyone can win. In the end it came down to two candidates. I tossed a coin and chose one,” Vincent Spijker, a 54-year-old quality control manager told AFP after casting his vote.
The campaign has focused mostly on reducing immigration, addressing the severe housing scarcity that disproportionately impacts Dutch youth, and addressing the rising cost of living. Climate change and the Gaza War have gotten less attention.
Regardless of the winner, forming a viable coalition will be a difficult task that will probably take well into the upcoming year. The formation of the last Rutte administration took 271 days.
