Rob Jetten’s Democrats 66 surged in Wednesday’s Dutch election, projected to win around 26 seats. At just 38, Mr Jetten is in line to become the Netherlands’ next prime minister. His party’s campaign slogan, “Het kan wél,” translates as “It can be done”, capturing a mood of possibility similar to Obama’s famous Yes, we can!
The election, held on 29 October 2025, was a snap vote following the collapse of the government. The coalition formed in July 2024—led by a centrist prime minister and backed by the far‑right Party for Freedom (PVV) under Geert Wilders—fell apart after the PVV withdrew its ministers in June over disagreements on migration policy.
Meanwhile, after years of fragmented politics and the rise of Mr Wilders’s anti‑immigrant and anti-Islam message, Dutch voters appear to be shifting towards competence and pragmatism. Wilders’s party lost 11 seats, and the leader himself has admitted it will be an uphill struggle to find coalition partners. In contrast, for the likely new PM, it was a night of victory, on a night when populist politics took it on the nose:
Commenting on the results, Mr Jetten said that “Millions of Dutch people have turned a page. They have said goodbye to the politics of negativity, of hate, of ‘it can’t be done.’”
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A new day in the Netherlands
Domestically, Mr Jetten’s D66 is promising a new tone: not only in favour of greater integration in the European Union, but on the domestic front tackling serious issues such as the housing crisis through large‑scale and ambitious housing construction plans. Also on the agenda, should D66 lead the new government, is migration reform that prioritises skilled workers while tightening asylum rules, and a managerial approach to governance. The message from voters: deliver results, not just rhetoric.
For Brussels, a D66‑led government is broadly welcome. The Netherlands has long served as a stabilising voice in EU debates—fiscal caution blended with openness to integration. Mr Jetten’s pro‑European credentials suggest Amsterdam may re‑engage more actively in EU governance, digital regulation and climate policy.
The road to success
At just 38 years old, Rob Jetten is now the fresh face of Dutch politics — a liberal, media‑savvy leader who could become the youngest prime minister in the Netherlands’ history, and the first openly gay one. Known for his earlier role as climate and energy minister, he re‑branded himself during the campaign with a more upbeat, “solutions‑first” tone. He even appeared on a popular television quiz show during the election cycle, boosting his public profile beyond the usual party circuit.
For many voters the image is now of change personified: someone who communicates clearly, embraces new media, and presents a stark contrast to the fractious coalitions and populist disruption of recent years.
Years in the wilderness
As for Mr Wilders: he never held the premiership but wielded outsized influence. In 2010 his PVV provided external support to a minority cabinet, forcing compromises without full responsibility. The coalition model under previous governments repeatedly struggled with policy stasis and collapsed in June 2025.
Mr Wilders now faces a transformed role. Though still influential, his party appears to be boxed into opposition, with mainstream parties almost unanimously refusing coalition deals with the PVV. His influence will now depend on being a vocal opposition force, shaping the agenda indirectly, and waiting for mistakes by the new government.
What could have been, what is
Why didn’t the more established parties such as the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) win outright, despite personal popularity? Longevity bred fatigue; coalition compromises diluted clear messaging and made it hard to claim credit for progress. Voters shifted towards D66, which framed itself as fresh, pro‑EU and methodical. In short: the Netherlands may be turning a page. Whether this marks a structural change or just a temporary pause depends on the next 12–18 months. Voters demanded competence; now the government will need to deliver.
