A new powerhouse of Dutch right-wing populism took political centre stage Thursday after winning its first provincial elections, a victory that was seen as a resounding rebuke to Prime Minister Mark Rutte's ruling four-party coalition.
With counting of ballots from Wednesday's vote wrapping up, the Farmer Citizen Movement -- known by its Dutch acronym BBB -- was predicted to win 15 seats in the 75-seat upper house of the Dutch national parliament, level with the bloc formed by left-of centre Labour and Green parties. The provincial lawmakers elected in Wednesday's vote choose national senators at the end of May.
"We are all normal people and all the people who voted for us are normal citizens," Van der Plas said in a victory speech. Mid-term elections for the Netherlands' 12 provincial legislatures are often used by voters to register their anger at sitting governments, but the success can be fleeting as fickle populist voters shift their allegiances. Four years ago, the far-right populist Forum for Democracy won the biggest share of the vote, but on Wednesday it was decimated.
But Wednesday's result will make life in the senate -- where his coalition already didn't have a majority -- even tougher. With most votes counted, the BBB was projected to win 16 seats in the upper house and a combination of Labour and the Greens had 15. Rutte will face a choice of working with a left-leaning bloc that is seeking more ambition in environmental policies, or with the BBB that aims to soften policies aimed at cutting nitrate pollution.
The plans have sparked mass protests by farmers in recent years, including blocking supermarket distribution centres with tractors and torching hay bales alongside highways. At farms across the nation, the Dutch flag hangs upside down as a sign of protest.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
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