2023 Dutch general election

2023 Dutch general election
Netherlands
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All 150 seats in the House of Representatives
76 seats needed for a majority
Turnout77.75% (Decrease 0.96pp)
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
PVV Geert Wilders 23.49 37 +20
GL/PvdA Frans Timmermans 15.75 25 +8
VVD Dilan Yeşilgöz 15.24 24 −10
NSC Pieter Omtzigt 12.88 20 New
D66 Rob Jetten 6.29 9 −15
BBB Caroline van der Plas 4.65 7 +6
CDA Henri Bontenbal 3.31 5 −10
SP Lilian Marijnissen 3.15 5 −4
Denk Stephan van Baarle 2.37 3 0
PvdD Esther Ouwehand 2.25 3 −3
FvD Thierry Baudet 2.23 3 −5
SGP Chris Stoffer 2.08 3 0
CU Mirjam Bikker 2.04 3 −2
Volt Laurens Dassen 1.71 2 −1
JA21 Joost Eerdmans 0.68 1 −2
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Most voted-for party by municipality
Cabinet before Cabinet after
Fourth Rutte cabinet
VVD–D66–CDA–CU		 Schoof cabinet
PVV–VVD–NSC–BBB

Early general elections were held in the Netherlands on 22 November 2023 to elect the members of the House of Representatives.[1][2] The elections had been expected to be held in 2025 but a snap election was called after the fourth Rutte cabinet collapsed on 7 July 2023 due to immigration policy disagreements between the coalition parties.[3] The incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that he would not lead his party into the election and that he would retire from politics.[4]

In what was described as "one of the biggest political upsets in Dutch politics since World War II",[5] the right-wing populist Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, won 37 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, becoming the largest party for the first time.[5][6][7] All four parties of the incumbent coalition government suffered losses.[8]

Internationally, the election was seen as a victory for Trumpism internationally with Wilders being an ally of former US President Donald Trump and being described as promoting right-wing populism.[9]

After the election, a cabinet formation began to determine which parties would form the next government. Subsequently on 16 May 2024, a coalition agreement was settled upon by PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB.[10] Furthermore, immigration policy has been heavily prioritised on the incoming government's agenda,[11] as coalition representatives stated they would embrace the "strictest" asylum policy.[12] Numerous reforms are also expected across areas such as welfare and health, as emphasised upon by NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt during the election campaign, similar to addressing issues having surfaced in the aftermath of the Dutch childcare benefits scandal.[13] Several observers have described the new government as the most right-wing in recent history.[14]

Following further negotiation amongst parties, Dick Schoof, an intelligence director, was then nominated for Prime Minister.[15] Shortly afterwards, all participating parties agreed to the nomination.[16] He then became Prime Minister in a new cabinet formation over a month later on 2 July after being formally appointed by the King.[17]

  1. ^ "Dutch general election to take place on November 22". DutchNews.nl. 14 July 2023. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Dutch voters will go to the polls on Nov. 22 after the fall of Mark Rutte's coalition". The Hague, Netherlands: Associated Press. 14 July 2023. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Kabinet gevallen over asieldeal: Rutte weet nog niet of hij doorgaat als VVD-leider". ad.nl (in Dutch). 7 July 2023. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Rutte kondigt vertrek uit politiek aan: 'Niet meer beschikbaar als lijsttrekker VVD'". nos.nl (in Dutch). 10 July 2023. Archived from the original on 10 July 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b Corder, Mike; Casert, Raf (22 November 2023). "Anti-Islam populist Wilders heading for a massive win in Netherlands in a shock for Europe". The Hague, Netherlands: Associated Press. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  6. ^ Meijer, Bart; Deutsch, Anthony (22 November 2023). "Dutch election: Wilders' far-right party set for gains". Amsterdam: Reuters. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  7. ^ Henley, Jon; Pjotr, Sauer; Senay, Boztas (22 November 2023). "Far-right party set to win most seats in Dutch elections, exit polls show". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Politieke aardverschuiving: PVV veruit de grootste, coalitie afgestraft" [Political landslide: PVV by far the largest, coalition punished]. NOS (in Dutch). 23 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Dutch election winner Geert Wilders is an anti-Islam firebrand known as the Dutch Donald Trump". The AP. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Dutch populist Wilders reaches government deal after six months". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  11. ^ "New Dutch Government to Crack Down on Migration, Green Measures". Bloomberg. 16 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Netherlands: New coalition pitches 'strictest' asylum policy – DW – 05/16/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  13. ^ Sanou, Hanneke (14 May 2024). "Childcare scandal compensation may cost €14 billion: NOS". DutchNews.nl. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Netherlands set for most right-wing government in years". Yahoo News. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Dutch ex-spy chief Dick Schoof named as PM-candidate". BBC News. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Former spy chief Dick Schoof proposed as Netherlands PM". Al Jazeera. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Schoof government sworn in". www.government.nl. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.