"Polls suggest that Wilders' far-right Freedom party (PVV) could again finish first in a vote triggered when he pulled it out of a fractious and ineffectual four-party rightwing coalition last June in a row over his 10-point plan for a radical crackdown on refugees. But such was the anger sparked by the populist leader's willingness to torpedo the government over demands widely judged either unworkable or illegal that all major political formations have since ruled out joining him in a new coalition."
"Under the Dutch system, every 0.67% of the vote yields one MP. No single party ever wins a majority, and cabinets the last three of which have been four-way coalitions must win a confidence vote in a parliament of 15 or more parties before taking office. That will make things difficult, if not impossible, for Wilders, who has spent more than 20 years under police protection after threats to his life"
"If the PVV is the biggest party on Wednesday and you leave us in the lurch and don't even want to talk to us or rule with us, then democracy is dead in the Netherlands, he told other party leaders in Volendam, a PVV stronghold, at the weekend. Few seem likely to listen. Migration has once again dominated the campaign, with many moderate parties hardening their rhetoric."
National elections are set as Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom party (PVV) could again top the vote less than two years after a shock victory. Wilders pulled the PVV from a fractious four-party rightwing coalition over his 10-point refugee crackdown, triggering the vote. Major parties have ruled out joining a new coalition with the PVV after criticizing his demands as unworkable or illegal. The Dutch proportional system prevents single-party majorities, forcing complex multi-party coalitions. Wilders seeks to lead a minority government, while migration dominates the campaign and demonstrations have turned violent. The PVV may nevertheless lose seats.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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