Rob Jetten set to make history as Netherlands’ youngest and first openly gay prime minister

Rob Jetten, the 38-year-old leader of the Dutch centrist D66 party, has emerged as the frontrunner to become the Netherlands’ next prime minister following his party’s impressive showing in Wednesday’s general election, as per reports.

With D66’s strong performance positioning it at the forefront of coalition talks, Jetten is now on track to become both the youngest and the first openly gay prime minister in the country’s history a milestone moment in Dutch politics that signals a generational and cultural shift in leadership.

The centrist-liberal D66 party emerged as the biggest winner, registering significant gains and positioning itself to lead coalition negotiations. Early results, with over 90% of votes counted by Thursday morning, showed both D66 and the PVV securing 26 seats each in the 150-member House of Representatives.

The outcome marks a major setback for Wilders, often dubbed the Dutch Trump, who saw his support base shrink dramatically compared to his strong 2023 performance. In contrast, D66 nearly tripled its parliamentary presence, marking one of the most striking turnarounds in recent Dutch political history.

While exit polls initially hinted at a narrow D66 victory, the final tally reflected a closer contest. Still, the political math leaves Wilders without a viable path to power, as mainstream parties have consistently ruled out partnering with him in government.

The election’s outcome underscores a shift among Dutch voters toward centrist and progressive politics, signaling waning momentum for the far right in the Netherlands’ ever-fragmented political landscape.