In the previous municipal elections, the PVV participated in two municipalities. Wilders now suspects that sixty to possibly ninety council members will be brought in at once.
He acknowledged that in some municipalities, such as Rotterdam, the result was somewhat disappointing.
There the PVV had strong competition from the local Leefbaar Rotterdam. “But our main goal was a substantial expansion of the number of seats, and the PVV voice will now be heard in thirty municipalities, that succeeded,” said Wilders. Overall the polls however showed strong performances for local parties, which earlier opinion surveys suggested could take 30 percent of the vote across the country.
In Rotterdam local populist party Leefbaar Rotterdam appears to have fended off a challenge from the PVV. Leefbaar is nevertheless predicted to lose three of its 14 seats but remain the largest party in the city, while the PVV was given two councillors.
The advisory referendum on a new law to extend the powers of security and intelligence services – the so-called Sleepwet – was on a knife-edge in NOS’s poll. Supporters of the law were cholesterol just ahead by 49 percent with turnout of nearly 50 percent.
That is comfortably above the 30 percent threshold that would trigger a debate in parliament to review the law.
Leftists, including D66, the Labour party (PvdA) and Socialist Party (SP) were all predicted to lose seats, while there were modest gains for the VVD, which could overtake CDA as the largest national party.
In Enschede, local party Burgerbelangen was forecast to overtake D66 and Labour to top the poll.
But the PVV, which is projected to make gains in Enschede, won four seats in Emmen as well as representatives in Rotterdam and Utrecht. Tom Kelder, lead candidate in Emmen, said: “One in 10 people voted for us and for a new party with little experience I find that a real vote of confidence.”
Denk, the party founded by two former Labour MPs from the Dutch Turkish community, is predicted to win seats in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Enschede, while Amsterdam could also see a debut for Thierry Baudet’s Forum voor Democratie.
Thierry… pic.twitter.com/JO3kuxAEDk
— Maarten Reijnders (@rohy) March 21, 2018