The race between anti-immigration Geert Wilders' far right Party for Freedom and the centrist D66 is still neck and neck. However, it is likely the energetic Rob Jetten of D66 will become the countries next prime minister - even if he comes second.

Amsterdam

Rob Jetten, the 38-year-old leader of the D66 party, is expected to become the next prime minister of the Netherlands. Jetten, who previously served as climate minister and entered parliament at age 29, is recognized for his optimistic campaign messaging and efforts to unite centrist parties against populism. 

Despite a significant defeat in the 2023 elections, Jetten has since revitalized his party by promising to address key issues such as housing shortages and green energy, while also confronting far-right rhetoric. If confirmed, he will be the country's youngest and first openly gay prime minister, marking a historic milestone for Dutch politics.

Who is Rob Jetten, tipped to become the next Dutch prime minister?

With a smile and a sunny attitude, Rob Jetten charmed his way into the hearts of Dutch voters. His belief, as per his campaign slogan, was it is possible. My message to everyone is that if we run on positive platforms and positive campaigns, it's possible to defeat the populist and to work together with the broad, middle and the centrist parties to show people that we can deliver real results. The 38-year-old, representing the socially liberal D66 party, is tipped to become the youngest prime minister for the Netherlands. He grew up in a small Dutch town as a self-confessed politics nerd. At the age of just 29, in 2017, he was first elected as an MP and served as climate minister under Mark Rutte's government. But all has not gone smoothly. During the 2023 election campaign, he earned the nickname Robot Jetten for his stumbling media personality. And his party suffered a catastrophic defeat under his leadership, winning just nine seats. This time, he turned things around. He made big promises such as tackling the housing shortage, building cities and boosting green energy. He also took on the far-right Geert Wilders head-on. Most Dutch people understand that the economy needs talent from abroad. They want to properly accommodate people fleeing war and violence while also being strict with those who abuse the system. We can choose to listen to your grumbling and hatred for another 20 years, or we can choose, with the positive forces, to simply get to work and tackle this problem and solve it. In another first, Jetten would become the country's first openly gay prime minister. Critics say it was his positive can-do attitude that appealed to voters, in contrast with Wilders that sowed division.

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