Far-right populists score stunning win in Dutch provincial vote

[Valin]

Politico

Far-right Forum for Democracy wins most seats in Dutch provincial elections.

Eline Schaart

3/20/19

Far-right populist newcomer Forum for Democracy stunned the Dutch political establishment after winning the most votes in provincial elections, according to a preliminary count on Thursday of almost all the votes.

Strong gains made by both the Euroskeptics and the Greens in Wednesday’s election mean Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is on course to lose control of the upper house of parliament.

The big winner, though, is the Forum for Democracy party led by 36-year-old Thierry Baudet. The party holds two seats in parliament after entering politics just three years ago. It will have 13 seats in the Senate, one more than Rutte’s liberal VVD.

(Snip)

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