Netherlands

Right-wing politician Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) looks set to become the largest party in general elections in the Netherlands on Wednesday. According to preliminary results, the PVV stands to get 37 seats in parliament – 20 seats more than in the last election. At 6:30 on Thursday morning, 97.9 percent of the votes were counted, according to NOS. The right-wing politician has gone to the polls on, among other things, stopping all immigration to the Netherlands. In his first comment after the exit polls were announced, he promised to “give the country back to the Dutch”. “We must find ways to live up to the hopes of our constituents and put the Dutch first again,” Wilders said. “Now is the time for the parties to try to reach agreements. We cannot be ignored any longer. The Freedom Party has also promised voters that the Dutch – similar to the British in 2016 – will be allowed to vote on whether the Netherlands should remain a member of the EU. /ritzau/