What the sensational election result in the Netherlands means for Ukraine
The parliamentary elections in the Netherlands on 29 October brought a major and pleasant surprise to liberal Europe and to Ukraine as well.
After the victory of the scandalous Geert Wilders in the 2023 elections and the subsequent formation of a coalition that included his party, a coalition Wilders himself ultimately destroyed, Dutch voters in this year’s snap elections chose stability and a centrist course.
It was a centrist force that won for the first time in a long while, gaining the chance to form a government and restore the Netherlands’ image as a stable and pro-European democracy.
Read more about Wilders’ defeat, the potential coalition and why this outcome is a triumph for Ukraine in the article by Daria Meshcheriakova, a European Pravda journalist: For Ukraine in NATO and the EU: how the Dutch elections brought a sensation and who will lead the government.
The 2025 Dutch elections became a true political marathon not only because of the record-close race between the two leading parties but also due to a profound reassessment by voters.
Just two years ago, populist Geert Wilders triumphed with 37 parliamentary seats. Now, however, his Party for Freedom (PVV) has lost 11 seats, while the liberal-centrist D66 party has nearly tripled its result.
Analysts note that D66 leader Rob Jetten’s campaign was built on optimism, social liberalism and European integration. He succeeded in convincing voters that the country needs "a new kind of politics without fear and xenophobia."
His supporters see the victory as a triumph of the center over right-wing populism.
Jetten’s optimistic campaign showed that the Dutch want a prime minister who unites the country rather than divides it.
His party also focused on affordable housing, green energy, quality education and "a healthy generation for the future."
For Geert Wilders, this result marks the most painful decline of the past decade. Yet the political history of the Netherlands shows that even after defeat, populism does not disappear, it merely waits for a new opportunity.
Most major Dutch parties had already announced before election day that they would refuse to cooperate with PVV, remembering how Wilders wrecked the previous coalition.
It is important to note that the results do not give any party an absolute majority. Even with 26 seats, D66 remains a "big small party," as Jetten himself put it: "We will have to cooperate with many others."
This, however, is unlikely to be an insurmountable challenge for him. The 38-year-old Rob Jetten is a new-generation politician, already being called "the new Rutte" – not only for his political flexibility but also for his ability to conduct dialogue in a fragmented political landscape. His style is calm and mediating, yet marked by a clear European vision.
Difficult coalition talks lie ahead for the Netherlands, though they are unlikely to be as drawn-out and complicated as two years ago. The centrist forces have performed far better and certainly won’t need populist votes.
Still, there is one issue – together, these centrist parties hold only 75 seats, exactly half of parliament. To reach a majority, the centrist coalition will need at least one more partner.
It appears that the conservative-liberal VVD party may join the coalition. Its leader Dilan Yeşilgöz has already suggested this possibility.
The results of the Dutch elections are certainly good news for Ukrainians.
Rob Jetten’s triumph means the continuation, and likely strengthening, of The Hague’s pro-European and pro-Ukrainian course. The D66 leader has openly stated that support for Ukraine will remain unconditional.