Amsterdam, 30 October 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Right-wing populist Geert Wilders has caught up in the Dutch parliamentary election, drawing level with the liberal Democrats 66 (D66), according to a new projection based on about 90% of votes counted.

Both parties are now expected to win 26 of the 150 seats in parliament, according to the latest projection from the election service of Dutch news agency ANP, released early Thursday. The preliminary final result is expected later in the day.

Earlier projections and forecasts had shown D66, led by Rob Jetten, holding a two-seat lead over Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV).

The latest figures nonetheless mark a setback for Wilders compared with the 2023 election, when his party secured 37 seats.

The liberal D66 is seen as the winner of the vote, gaining 17 seats compared with two years ago. Its 38-year-old leader Jetten is considered to have the best chance of forming a governing coalition, as all major parties have ruled out cooperating with Wilders.

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