Polls open in Netherlands in close-run election seen as litmus test for far-right
The outcome of Wednesday's vote in the Netherlands could determine the strength of the far-right in a knife-edge race, Euronews reports.
Dutch voters began casting their ballots across the Netherlands on Wednesday in a close-run snap election called after far-right Geert Wilders brought down the outgoing four-party coalition in a dispute over immigration.
The campaign echoed issues that resonate across Europe, focusing on how to rein in migration and tackle chronic shortages of affordable housing.
Final opinion polls released on Tuesday evening indicated an extremely tight race between Geert Wilders' Party For Freedom (PVV) and more moderate parties, including the Green Left Labour Party (GL-PvdA), centre-left D66 and centrist Christian Democratic Party (CDA).
In a country where coalition governments are the norm, GL-PvdA, D66 and CDA have all ruled out governing with Wilders again, even if his Party for Freedom repeats its stunning victory from two years ago.
They argue that his decision to torpedo the outgoing four-party coalition in June underscored that he is an untrustworthy partner.
"It's up to the voters today," Wilders said after voting in the cavernous atrium of The Hague City Hall, surrounded by security guards.
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