Dutch head to the polls to elect a Prime Minister in tight race

World Today

In the Netherlands, voters head to the polls on Wednesday as the general election will be watched closely around the world.

Many see it as a test of anti-immigrant nationalism across Western Europe.

CGTN’s Kate Parkinson is on the campaign trail with far-right MP Geert Wilders – a front runner in the polls.
Follow Kate Parkinson on Twitter @KTP_news

In the small town of Valkenburg, firebrand MP Geert Wilders is campaigning ahead of Wednesday’s vote.

Sometimes referred to as the “Dutch Donald Trump,” Wilders is promising to make The Netherlands great again and shares the U.S. President’s opposition to Muslim immigrants.

Opinion polls currently show Wilders running almost neck and neck with Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

But even if he wins more votes than any other candidate, it’s unlikely that Wilders will become Prime Minister. The Dutch political system always produces a coalition government and most other parties have vowed not to team up with Wilders.

Although that doesn’t seem to bother The Freedom Party leader, after he was asked if he has a real chance of becoming Prime Minister – without other parties’ support:

In the era of Brexit and Donald Trump, the results of Wednesday’s vote will test the strength of European populism. And set the stage for elections later this year in France and Germany – where right-wing nationalism is strongly on the rise.