The election: Massive win for VVD, Labour close second

DutchNews.nl and other news sources reported that the right-wing Liberal Party (VVD) and prime minister Mark Rutte emerged the winners of the general election in The Netherlands on the 12 September 2012, with a revitalised Labour party (LP) a strong second, making a coalition between the two in some form almost inevitable.

The big shock of the evening was the 43% drop in support for Geert Wilders' anti-immigration PVV as voters shifted away from his populist policies. The PVV, which campaigned on an anti-Europe ticket, won 15 seats - nine down on its existing number.

The shift away from the SP and PVV was said to show that voters wanted a return to the centre and an end to fringe politics. The change in voting patterns was also being seen as a reinforcement of Dutch support for Europe.

ESO: Background information: Dutch general election, 2012 http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-general-election-2012/

BBC News, 12.9.12: Dutch vote overshadowed by eurozone debt crisis http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19566165

Deutsche Welle, 13.9.12: Incumbent Rutte claims narrow Netherlands election win http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16235759,00.html

France24, 13.9.12: Dutch pro-European parties sweep vote http://www.france24.com/en/20120912-dutch-exit-polls-indicate-tight-win-liberals-the-netherlands-mark-rutte-elections

Spiegel Online International, 13.9.12: Dutch Voters Choose Pro-European Parties http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/voters-choose-pro-european-parties-in-dutch-election-a-855529.html

NRC Handelsblatt, 13.9.12: Rutte claimt overwinning na nek-aan-nekrace met PvdA – felicitaties Samsom http://www.nrc.nl/verkiezingen/2012/09/13/vvd-loopt-verder-uit-op-pvda/

EUObserver, 13.9.12: Dutch pro-Europe parties win heated election http://euobserver.com/political/117531

EurActiv, 13.9.12: Rutte wins Dutch election as voters choose pro-EU parties http://www.euractiv.com/elections/rutte-gets-victory-netherlands-v-news-514770

Reuters, 13.9.12: Pro-euro parties sweep Dutch poll, Rutte ahead http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/12/uk-dutch-election-idUKBRE88B14M20120912

Het Financieele Dagblad / Trouw / De Volkskrant, 13.9.12: Voters push to the centre (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/press-review/2687711-voters-push-centre

DutchNews.nl, 13.9.12: The election: what the media says about the results http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/09/the_election_what_the_media_sa.php

DutchNews.nl, 13.9.12: Social affairs minister Kamp to start cabinet formation process http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/09/social_affairs_minister_kamp_t.php

Blog: Bruegel, 13.9.12: Dutch elections – anti-Europe lost, but did pro-Europe win? http://www.bruegel.org/nc/blog/detail/article/889-dutch-elections-anti-europe-lost-but-did-pro-europe-win/

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