Dutch PM Mark Rutte to begin coalition talks after election victory
by Jon Henley Europe correspondent from World news | The Guardian on (#5FGFQ)
Surge in support for progressive parties with D66, led by Sigrid Kaag, finishing second
The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, will begin talks on forming a new coalition government after shrugging off setbacks to gain a comfortable win in a national election marked by a surge in support for progressive and pro-European forces.
With 80% of votes counted, Rutte's liberal-conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) was on course for 35 seats in the 150-seat Dutch parliament, two more than in the previous 2017 poll, securing him a fourth successive term.
Continue reading...