Netherlands: exit polls show left wins Dutch Senate elections; Geert Wilders anti-Muslim party drops 4 % in relation to June 2010 national elections

Exit polls following today's Dutch Senate elections show the leftist coalition has won the election with a 54 percent majority. PM Mark Rutte of the VVD, who had said before he would consider this election a referendum on his right-wing Government performance will now have to work more closely with the opposition in order to get his cost cutting legislation passed.  It is also possible he might have to call for new elections if  compromises are difficult to achieve.

Among the big surprises of the evening so far are that two of the three parties supporting the Government, Geert Wilders anti-Muslim  PVV party dropped approximately 4% in popularity in comparison to last years national elections and that the Christian Democratic party (CDA)  membership in the Senate has been halved  Another major surprise is the emergence of the new "50 plus" party which is supported by mainly senior citizens and is expected get one to  two seats in the senate. .

Final result of the Senate elections will be announced early Thursday morning.

EU-Digest.