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| - Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's party won the most seats in elections dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, putting him on course to lead his fourth coalition, exit polls said Wednesday. The pro-EU D66 party, which has challenged Rutte's European policy as part of his current government, is set to surge into second place, while anti-Islam leader Geert Wilders lost ground to move into third, public broadcaster NOS predicted. Populist leader Thierry Baudet's party did unexpectedly well on the back of Covid-sceptic votes in a country that recently suffered its worst riots in decades after the imposition of a coronavirus curfew. Millions of Dutch voters cast their ballots in socially distanced conditions at museums, churches and bike-through polling stations on the third and final day of the elections, which have been dominated by the government's response to the pandemic. A limited number of voting centres had been open on Monday and Tuesday for the elderly and vulnerable, with voters also allowed out after a nationwide 9:00 pm coronavirus curfew, before polls opened for everyone on Wednesday. Rutte had earlier said he was "cautiously" optimistic as he arrived in trademark style on his bike to vote at a school in The Hague. "The main question during these elections on the table is who best can lead this country forward through the crisis of corona, and then make a new start with this country, I hope from summer onwards," Rutte told reporters. The Dutch parliament is now set to have 17 parties in parliament, two more than the current number, and a sign that coalition talks could be as difficult as in 2017 when they took seven months. The exit polls showed Rutte's liberal VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) gaining three seats to win 36 in total, broadly in line with what opinion polls had predicted. The main surprise was the strong showing of D66, led by Dutch foreign trade minister Sigrid Kaag, predicted to increase its parliamentary share to 27 seats, and overtake its coalition partner the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), now set to be in fourth place with 14 seats. Far-right leader Wilders looked set to lose his status as the second-biggest party, with exit polls predicting he would win 17 seats, down three. Meanwhile, Baudet's Forum for Democracy, criticised for his anti-vaccine comments and for being the only leader to hold rallies despite the pandemic, was set to win eight seats, up from two. Both had criticised Rutte's handling of the pandemic. Rutte earlier ruled out a coalition with Wilders "because of what he said about Islam and the Koran", or with Baudet because of what he "has done in terms of anti-Semitism and racism". One other key gainer was the stridently pro-EU Volt party, winning its first ever three seats. Mask-wearing citizens had earlier voted in locations ranging from the famed Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam to railway stations. Special polling stations for bikes and cars were also set up to allow people to keep social distancing, while over-70s could cast their ballots by post. Campaigning was almost totally halted by the pandemic, meaning that parties relied instead on TV debates and social media to reach out to voters. "The campaign is different to what it used to be," Twan Compen, 37, told AFP in The Hague. Another voter, Erik Spruijt, 35, said Rutte and the VVD were "a bit untouchable". The Netherlands has recorded more than 1.1 million infections and more than 16,000 deaths, and is currently under its most stringent health measures yet. Anti-lockdown discontent continues to simmer following devastating riots against the introduction of the curfew in January, with protests against Rutte in The Hague on Sunday. However, he has maintained his reputation as the "Teflon" premier for emerging unscathed from crises. Rutte also recently shrugged off the fact that he had to resign in January over a scandal in which thousands of parents were falsely accused of scamming childcare. Victory would confirm him as one of the EU's longest-serving leaders after Germany's Angela Merkel and Hungary's Viktor Orban -- even if his hawkish stance on spending has seen other EU chiefs dub him "Mr No". dk/spm
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