Netherlands Polls Open, All Eyes on Far-right MP Wilders
Local Editor
Overshadowed by a blazing diplomatic row with Turkey, polls in The Netherlands key elections opened Wednesday, with all eyes on the fate of far-right MP Geert Wilders.
Following last year's shock Brexit vote and Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential polls, the Dutch general elections are seen as a litmus test of the strength of far-right and populist parties ahead of other ballots in Europe this year.
Amid the tussle between outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his anti-Islam, anti-immigration rival Wilders, many of the 12.9 million eligible voters remained undecided on the eve of the ballot.
Most polling stations were to open Wednesday at 0630 GMT, and close at 2000 GMT with exit polls expected shortly after.
"When people look for leadership, they look to me," Rutte told a final debate late Tuesday.
The leader of the Liberal VVD party, he is bidding for a third term as premier of the country of 17 million people -- one of the largest economies in the eurozone and a founding father of the European Union.
Relatively, final polls released late Tuesday appeared to show Rutte pulling away from Wilders, crediting the VVD with coming top with 24 to 28 seats.
Wilders was seen as slipping yet again and barely clinging on to second place with between 19 and 22 MPs. That would however still be well up on the 12 MPs his Freedom Party [PVV] has in the outgoing parliament.
Seeking to mark his differences with the fiery, Twitter-loving Wilders, Rutte has been highlighting the country's economic growth and stability during his six years at the helm.
Complicating the political landscape, Turkey has gatecrashed the scene with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodgan unleashing a string of invective at the Dutch for barring his ministers from addressing a pro-Ankara rally in Rotterdam.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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