The Freedom Party is in the lead in the early parliamentary elections held in the Netherlands on Wednesday, according to exit polls after the polls closed.

According to surveys based on surveys of voters leaving the polling stations, the anti-migration Freedom Party led by Wilders may be the largest party in the lower house of the Dutch parliament. The right-wing party can win 35 of the 150 seats, which is more than double its current 18 seats.

The forecasts show that the coalition of the Greens and the Labor Party, led by former EU Commissioner Frans Timmersmans, finished second with 26 seats, which is 9 seats more than the current total of the two parties.

However, the mandate of Acting Prime Minister Mark Rutte's party, the Free Democratic People's Party (VVD), will probably decrease from 34 to 23.

Christian Democrat politician Pieter Omtzigt's newly formed party, the New Social Contract (NSC), may get around 20 seats in the lower house of the Dutch parliament.

After the exit poll results were published, Geert Wilders declared that he would "return the Netherlands to the Dutch".

“We have to find a way to meet the expectations of our voters and put the Dutch back first. It's time for the parties to find agreements, we can no longer be ignored," he declared.

Viktor Orbán already congratulated Geert Wilders on his election victory shortly after the polls closed.

In the telephone conversation on Wednesday evening, Viktor Orbán said that it is important for him to be among the first to congratulate the "earthquake-like" election victory. The Hungarian Prime Minister wished Geert Wilders much success and perseverance for the political negotiations of the next period.

Before the telephone conversation, the Prime Minister wrote in his post in English on the social portal X: "The wind of change has come! I congratulate Geert Wilders on his victory in the Dutch elections!".

MTI

Cover photo: Geert Wilders and Viktor Orbán during the Dutch politician's visit to Budapest a few years ago
Source: Facebook/Viktor Orbán