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People queuing in front of a polling station to vote in the Netherlands early general elections. Photo: Screenshot/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The centrist D66 party made huge gains in the Netherlands' early general elections, giving the party a big chance to lead talks in the formation of the next government, as the Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) lost massive support among voters.
The elections had been expected to be held in 2028, but a snap election was called after the Dick Schoof cabinet collapsed due to the PVV withdrawing from the coalition.
Fleur Janssen, a Dutch voter, shared her happiness for Wilders' loss.
"In my opinion, it is a good thing for the Netherlands that Wilders lost some of the votes," she told Rudaw. "I think what we need is more stability, more unity, better relations with all political parties."
She went on to say that "with all the parties that have won so far, there is a great chance that we will have a good government. I think that young man can become our new prime minister. His party made a stunning comeback."
Niki Van de Linde, is a 19-year-old student. She skipped classes to vote for a leftist party.
"In my opinion, it is very important for people to vote, and make their voice heard. I am voting for the leftists, because we should all be united and positive. We have to care for each other, instead of antagonizing one another, unlike Geert Wilders," Linde said.
The issue of immigration, which led to the dissolution of the four-party coalition government, was the key matter in right-wing Wilders' party's election campaigning.
About 300,000 Kurds live in the Netherlands, most of whom have the right to vote. What worried them was the strengthening of the far-right parties..
"There is a massive change. Political parties in the 70s and 80s, and 90s had their focuses on economic policies, and the country's stability. No one was talking about immigrants," Wrya Qaradaghi, Dutch-Kurdish national said . "But now, there are parties who have been established on the basis of antagonizing migrants, and yet, gained a lot of votes, such as Geert Wilders' PVV [Party for Freedom]. If you cast the matter of immigrants aside, the party will be empty-handed."
Additional reporting by Alla Shally
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