Dutch EU Parliament Election Sees Far Right and Center Left in Close Contest

Geert Wilders' far-right party has made significant gains in the Dutch elections for the European Union parliament, according to a final exit poll. The poll suggests that Wilders' Party for Freedom has won seven seats, a significant increase from just one seat in the previous parliament. The centre-left alliance is predicted to win eight of the 31 European Parliament seats up for grabs in the Netherlands. This outcome could be a sign of strong electoral gains for the hard right across the European Union.Wilders, who became the biggest party in the Dutch national parliament six months ago, aims to build on his popularity and set the tone for the bloc. He advocates for more power to be given to national capitals and away from the EU, particularly on issues such as migration. Wilders wants a broad alliance of hard right parties to break up the traditional coalition of Christian Democrats, Socialists, pro-business Liberals, and Greens.The European Parliament elections are the second-largest exercise in democracy globally, with almost 400 million voters electing 720 members from beyond the Arctic circle to the edges of Africa and Asia. The results will have a significant impact on global climate policies, defense, migration, and geopolitical relations with China and the United States.Since the last European elections in 2019, war has broken out on the fringe of the bloc following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Netherlands, a founding member of the EU, has shown some dissatisfaction with EU policies. While most Dutch people believe that their country should remain in the bloc, many also believe it should be more self-sufficient.The Christian Democrat-dominated European Peoples Party is currently the largest bloc in the EU legislature and is likely to be the coalition kingmaker after the election results are finalized. In the Netherlands, Wilders' PVV could potentially overtake the combined Labour Party and Green Left. Wilders and his likely coalition partner, the Farmer Citizen Movement, have gained popularity among farmers in the Netherlands who have protested against EU legislation they claim is detrimental to their livelihoods.Although Wilders has previously called for the Netherlands to leave the EU, his party's manifesto for the current election does not mention a so-called Nexit. Instead, it urges voters to support the PVV to bring about change within the EU, similar to the plans of other hard right parties across the bloc.The number of members elected in each country depends on its population size, ranging from six for Malta, Luxembourg, and Cyprus to 96 for Germany. Following the United Kingdom's departure from the EU in 2020, the number of MEPs fell to 705. MEPs have the power to vote on a wide range of legislation covering various areas such as banking rules, climate, agriculture, fisheries, security, and justice. They also vote on the EU budget, which is crucial for implementing European policies.After the election, MEPs will elect their president at the first plenary session in July. The president of the European Commission will be nominated by member states, most likely in September. Ursula von der Leyen, the current president, narrowly won a vote in 2019 to become the first woman to head the institution. She is seeking a second term.The final results for the entire EU will be announced in Brussels after polls close on Sunday night. The outcome of these elections will shape the future of Europe and its relationship with the rest of the world.