INITIAL RESULTS SHOW RUTTE’S PARTY WINNING DUTCH ELECTION

Acting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's party has won the most seats in the country's general election, according to preliminary results, Annette Birschel reported for the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

According to initial forecasts on broadcaster NOS, Rutte's center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy has about 23 percent of the vote. With 35 seats, it is by far the strongest force in the House of Representatives.

The results, which were expected, could mean Rutte will serve a fourth term as head of government after 10 years in that role. The big election surprise, however, was the showing by the liberal D66, with top candidate Sigrid Kaag, which came in second with 27 mandates, according to initial results. With D66 in second, the party of right-wing populist Geert Wilders is knocked into third place.

Seventeen parties - out of a record 37 with candidates in the race - made it into parliament, forecasts showed. Three extreme right-wing parties will be represented in the House of Representatives, with a total of 27 seats - a significant increase compared to 2017.

In contrast, left-wing parties, Social Democrats, Socialists, and the Greens recorded significant losses. A preliminary final result is not expected until late Wednesday night.

The Netherlands saw strong voter turnout on Wednesday, the last day of the country's general election, a process that was stretched out across three days due to health concerns amid the pandemic.

About half of 13 million eligible voters had already cast their vote by 3:45 pm (1445 GMT) for the 150 members of the House of Representatives. Roughly 12 percent cast their vote on Monday and Tuesday, while another 7 percent had voted by postal ballot.

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