The Dutch far-right, faced with the complex task of forming a government after achieving victory in the Netherlands

The previous government took almost 280 days to form after long rounds of negotiations

MADRID, 23 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The surprise victory of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) in the elections held on Wednesday in the Netherlands now puts Geert Wilders' party in the difficult situation of forming a government in a country with a highly fragmented politics.

The party, which has an anti-immigration and anti-Islam discourse, could become the party with the largest number of seats in the Dutch Parliament by taking 37 of the 150 deputies in the Lower House, which represents the largest political shift in the History of the country.

Although these results place them closer to the 76 seats required to win the majority, the PVV will need the help of other parties to obtain control of the government in a country with one of the most proportional and multi-party systems in the world.

"We are the party with the most votes in the Netherlands and I assure you that the voters have spoken," said Wilders himself after learning the first results of the elections. Thus, he has highlighted that citizens "will come first again" and has hinted that contacts with other parties have already begun. "We will govern," he assured.

In this sense, he pointed out that "the PVV wants to work with other parties from a great position, although the left-wing bloc led by the former vice president of the European Commission Frans Timmermans has already ruled out a pact with the far right after winning 25 seats. "I expected more," said Timmermans, who stressed that he continues to defend "the rule of law" before thanking his supporters.

Added to this is the New Social Contract (NSC) of the Christian Democrat Pieter Omtzigt, the main favorite in the voting intention polls, which has finally obtained 20 seats and which also ruled out working with Wilders, at least for the moment. According to Omtzigt, the results plunge the Netherlands into a "new era" on a political level, although he has admitted that the PVV's victory is a "huge shock."

The Dutch politician, a practicing Catholic, advocates for new leadership that includes the creation of a Constitutional Court and defends gay marriage, although he has not shown a clear position on access to abortion.

Dilan Yesilgoz, the candidate of the Popular Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) of the still acting Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, has not closed the door to a negotiation with the far-right leader after obtaining 24 seats and has been more forceful when it comes to taking measures against migration. "Now it is Wilders' turn and he must show that he can form a majority," she said.

Likewise, he has ruled out that his training has made any strategic error and has stated that the results respond to the "concerns of people who have not been heard." "If you keep ignoring them in policy you get this, and that's what's happening here," she said.

However, it is not clear whether the leader of the PVV will be able to carry out this coalition nor if the remaining left-wing parties will be able to put a viable solution on the table that avoids becoming a puzzle with a tendency to crack due to internal differences.

The deputies will have to be sworn in on December 6, and until a new government is formed, Rutte will continue to lead with the current Cabinet in a country where the previous Executive took almost 280 days to be formed after long rounds of negotiations.

Dutch politics has recently witnessed a drop in support for more traditional leaders and formations, which have been gradually losing votes in a trend that has become plausible in much of Europe.