PVV leads Netherlands elections, exit poll says

THE HAGUE — The Party for Freedom, or PVV, headed by Geert Wilders, is leading the 2023 Dutch parliamentary elections, according to an exit poll cited by public broadcaster NOS on Wednesday, signaling wide repercussions in the Netherlands and Europe.

Wilders is set to start looking for coalition partners on Thursday after the expected win — his election program includes calls for a referendum on the Netherlands leaving the European Union, a total halt to accepting asylum-seekers and migrant pushbacks at Dutch borders.

The PVV is on a predicted 35 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament. The Green Left-Labor alliance led by Frans Timmermans is second on a predicted 26 seats.