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The Hague (ANSA) – The final exit polls in the Netherlands confirm the lead of the Labour-Green coalition led by Frans Timmermans over the far-right of Geert Wilders in the European elections. The pro-European alliance would be ahead with 8 seats, compared to the 7 assigned to the Freedom Party (Pvv). For the anti-Islam and eurosceptic leader, however, it is a clear victory compared to the single seat obtained in the last European elections and subsequently lost after his only MEP switched to another party.
Voter turnout, according to the estimate released by Ipsos, was 47%, up from 42% five years ago. The game remains open, and the outcome will only be known on Sunday evening, with the real data from the scrutiny of all twenty-seven. According to the final exit polls, the Labour-Green ticket would lose one seat overall compared to the current 9, curbing the nationalist wave predicted on the eve of the vote. Behind the two main rivals follow with 4 seats the right-wing liberals of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, led by Dilan Yesilgoz (losing one seat compared to the 5 held in the last legislature).
The Christian Democrats (Cda) would instead get 3 seats (-1) on par with the left-wing liberals D66 (+1). The Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) would make its debut in the European Parliament by obtaining 2 seats, as well as Wilders’ other government allies, the centrists of Pieter Omtzigt, who would however have only one seat. Out of the game, instead, is the Forum for Democracy (FvD) led by populist leader Thierry Baudet: initially given one seat, according to the new exit polls the party would register a heavy defeat, losing all four current seats in Strasbourg (June 6).