Dutch Far-Right Party’s, Geert Wilders’ Lead Shrinks in Latest Poll

Far-right lawmaker Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) is projected to take 26 seats in Wednesday’s Dutch election, according to a poll conducted by Ipsos I&O Research, down from 29 in an earlier survey as the GreenLeft/Labour alliance narrows the gap.

GreenLeft/Labour, led by former European Commissioner Frans Timmermans, is seen taking 23 seats, according to Saturday’s poll. D66, a liberal-progressive party, was projected to win 22 seats, up four from an Oct. 16 poll.

Wilders pulled the plug on the previous coalition in early June after his partners rejected proposals to curb immigration, including closing the border to asylum seekers and temporarily halting family reunification.

With no party seen close to winning an outright majority, various new coalitions are likely to be under consideration.

The Christian Democrats were forecast to take 20 seats, down five from the previous poll, while the right-leaning VVD is projected to win 16 and the far-right JA21 is seen taking 12 seats.

Read more: Dutch Government Falls After Far-Right Party Quits Coalition

The Ipsos I&O Research poll — expected to be the second to last before the vote — surveyed 3,244 Dutch people over the age of 18 on Oct. 23-24.

In the previous survey, Wilders’ PVV was four seats ahead of the CDA, but it now leads GreenLeft/Labour by three seats.

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