Dutch election: Anti-Islam populist Wilders set for big win

Geert Wilders has won the Dutch general election, according to the latest forecast. 

After 25 years in parliament, Wilders Freedom Party (PVV) is set to win 37 seats, miles ahead of its nearest rival, a left-wing alliance. 

The anti-Islam populist leader’s win has shaken Dutch politics, but he will have to persuade other parties to join him in a coalition. 

His target is 76 seats in the 150-seat parliament. 

Wilders, 60, said: We want to govern and… we will govern. [The seat numbers are] an enormous compliment but an enormous responsibility too.

Three big parties initially ruled out taking part in a Wilders-led government because of his far-right policies. But that could change due to the scale of his victory. 

His win is a shock for Europe, but nationalist and far-right leaders have praised his victory. Wilders wants to hold a referendum on the Netherlands – a founding EU member – to leave the European Union, dubbed “Nexit,” although he recognises there is no interest from the public to do so.