Dutch premier’s party wins general elections: exit polls

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) has won Wednesday’s general elections in the Netherlands, according to exit polls.

According to the provisional polls, Rutte’s party won the parliamentary elections, in which 37 parties and 1,579 candidates are vying for 150 seats.

The VVD ranks first with 35 seats, according to data from research firm Ipsos.

The elections were held from March 15-17 due to coronavirus measures, with turnout at 81%. The turnout for the 2017 elections was 81.6%.

The Democrats 66 party led by politician Sigrid Kaag made significant gains.

For a party to form a government, it must have the support of at least 76 of the 150 MPs in parliament.

That makes a coalition mandatory in the Netherlands.

In addition, 32 candidates of Turkish origin from various parties are competing to become deputies.

*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin