Netherlands election previews: Election year 2017 kicks off in the Netherlands / Why is Wilders so popular in the Netherlands?

The Debates feature from Euro|Topics offers English (+ French and German) translations of a selections of articles in European news sources on this topic.

Euro|Topics relaunched their website during 2016. Features published before that date are still available via an archive website (see related url hyperlinks).After the Brexit vote and Trump's election victory in 2016, observers have their eyes trained on Geert Wilders and his xenophobic PVV in the run-up to the Dutch parliamentary elections on 15 March 2017. For months the right-wing populist was ahead in the polls, but just before the election Mark Rutte's right-wing liberal VVD had regained the lead.

European newspapers asked: how will the people vote in the first of several key elections in Europe in 2017.

See the related urls below for further preview features published in the days leading up to the election on the 15 March 2017.

• Primary Source

http://archiv.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/aktuell.html http://archiv.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/aktuell.html

ESO: Key source: Dutch general election, 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-general-election-2017/

ESO: Find further information on this topic in ESO http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=netherlands%20parliamentary%20election%202017%20&searchOption=all

Dutch News.nl, 06.03.17: The newbies of the Dutch election: six first time parties http://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2017/03/the-newbies-of-the-dutch-election-six-first-time-parties/

NRC.nl, 08.03.17: This is Geert Wilders, the Dutch populist who could win but not rule https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/03/08/who-is-geert-wilders-the-dutch-populist-who-could-win-but-not-rule-a1549168

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 09.03.17: A Dutch Election Campaign in Splendid Isolation http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/68227?lang=en

Spiegel Online International, 06.03.17: The Dutch Donald. Geert Wilders Rides Populism Wave http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/geert-wilders-eyes-victory-in-coming-netherlands-election-a-1137469.html

Politico, 13.03.17: 3 biggest Dutch election myths http://www.politico.eu/article/three-myths-dutch-election-wilders-nexit-analysis-politics-eu-vote-populism-rutte/

The Guardian, 13.03.17: 'We do reasonable' – so why are Dutch voters abandoning the centre ground? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/13/dutch-voters-netherlands-election-wilders

Blog: Open Europe, 13.03.17: Four things you need to know about the Dutch elections http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/four-things-need-know-dutch-elections/

EUObserver, 14.03.17: Rutte and Wilders clash on EU ahead of Dutch vote https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/137223

BBC News, 14.03.17: Dutch election: PM warns against populism in TV debate with Wilders http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39258957

Politico, 13.03.17: Mark Rutte: Netherlands should stop ‘domino effect’ of populism http://www.politico.eu/article/mark-rutte-netherlands-should-stop-domino-effect-of-populism/

EurActiv, 14.03.17: Dutch leaders clash in tense elections debate http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/dutch-leaders-clash-in-tense-elections-debate/

The Guardian, 14.03.17: Geert Wilders calls for expulsion of Turkey's ambassador in TV debate https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/14/geert-wilders-seeks-expulsion-of-turkeys-ambassador

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2017: A warning shot from the Netherlands? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/176063/a-warning-shot-from-the-netherlands

Dutch News.nl, 15.03.17: Election 2017: Turnout may reach 80%, new ballot papers printed http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2017/03/election-2017-turnout-may-reach-80-new-ballot-papers-printed/

Politico, 15.03.17: Voices of swinging Dutch voters http://www.politico.eu/article/voices-of-swinging-dutch-voters/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 15.03.17: Final look at the Dutch election: A campaign of limited drama looks set to produce a remarkably fragmented parliament http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/03/15/final-look-at-the-dutch-elections-a-campaign-of-limited-drama-looks-set-to-produce-a-remarkably-fragmented-parliament/

openDemocracy: Can Europe make it?, 14.03.17: The Dutch elections – making sense of its fractures https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/markha-valenta/dutch-elections-making-sense-of-its-fractures

---