The centre-left D66 party has made huge gains in the Netherlands’ general election, with it likely taking the lead in government formation talks as the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) haemorrhaged support among voters.

With 90 percent of the votes counted early on Thursday, D66 and PVV were both projected to take 26 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament.

The results marked a sharp fall for PVV leader Geert Wilders, sometimes known as the “Dutch Trump”, from a record showing in 2023 , while D66 made the biggest gains and almost tripled its seats.

Exit polls and early results had indicated a narrow victory for the progressive D66 , with Wilders, 62, trailing in second place. But vote counting indicated a slightly stronger showing for Wilders.

Whatever the final result, Wilder

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