Dutch voters went to the polls on Wednesday to elect new city councils in almost four hundred different municipalities. In the wake of the government’s collapse two weeks ago, the local elections are closely watched as they may indicate which way the country will swing politically next summer.
Both former ruling parties, the christian democrats and Labour, suffered in the polls, although the latter has managed to pick up some support in recent weeks compared to its popularity while in government. Nonetheless, the opposition is emerging with greater vigor. Nationwide, both the anti-immigration Freedom Party of Geert Wilders and his nemesis Alexander Pechtold of the centre left D66 are on the rise. Locally, the right wing Liberal Party is set to win the elections.
The liberals, in part, have Wilders to thank for their impressive comeback. His party competes in only two major cities. Many of his supporters in other parts of the country opt for the liberals because on immigration and security, their positions are similar, if less Islamophobic.
The progressive D66 is also much indebted to Wilders. Party leader Alexander Pechtold has positioned himself as the right wing foreman’s staunchest of opponents in parliament, stressing the Netherlands’ traditionally open and cosmopolitan character contrary to the nationalistic tone of Wilders and his party.
Since he ran and won on his own ticket in 2006, Wilders has made a series of dramatic proposals to curb what he calls the Islamification of the Netherlands, including the banning of the Qur’an and the taxing of Muslim women wearing headscarfs. Wilders currently awaits trail for allegations of hate speech.
According to the polls, the Socialist Party will have to give up over half of its seats. The more moderate Green Party instead nearly doubles its support.
