Exit poll puts far-right, anti-Islam populist Wilders ahead in Dutch election

An exit poll for Wednesday's Dutch election says that far-right, anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders has won the most votes.

The elections will be watched closely across Europe, with the Netherlands playing a leading role on a number of issues, such as the Eurozone bailout and the Ukraine war.

Wilders, who leads the PVV, or Party for Freedom, has recently tried to smooth out his image by qualifying some of his most controversial positions. He recently said there are more pressing problems than reducing the number of asylum-seekers and has muted some of his anti-Islam views.

A victory for the man with peroxide hair would be a political earthquake - felt beyond the Netherlands' borders. During the campaign, Wilders called for a referendum on the Netherlands leaving the European Union.

He also advocates the “de-Islamization” of the Netherlands, although he has been milder about Islam during this election campaign than in the past.

The lawmaker, who has previously been labelled a Dutch version of Donald Trump, will have to form a coalition government before he can take the reins of power.

That will be tough as mainstream parties are reluctant to join forces with him and his Party for Freedom.

Despite his harsh rhetoric, he has already begun courting other right-wing parties by saying that whatever he would do, “it would be within the law and constitution.”

Coming in second to Wilders' PVV on Wednesday was an alliance of the centre-left Labor Party and Green Left, which was forecast to win 26 seats.

The exit poll was published as voting ended in the general election. It can have a margin of error of up to three seats but generally is accurate within one or two seats.

Trust in the government is at a low following a scandal where thousands of parents were wrongly labelled as benefit cheats.

What issues have shaped the Dutch election?

Immigration, the cost of living and the housing crisis - which particularly affects young Dutch voters - have been the main issues in the campaign.

After the long leadership of Mark Rutte - nicknamed "Teflon" Mark for his ability to overcome scandals - the Dutch are looking for a change in the way of governing, according to experts.

Rutte shocked the country in July by announcing his government had collapsed after "insurmountable" differences on immigration. A few days later he announced he would leave politics - another stir.

Rutte was replaced by Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, a former refugee from Turkey who would have been the country's first female prime minister had her party won the most votes. Instead, it was forecast to lose 11 seats to end up with 23.

No party is predicted to win more than 20% of the vote, meaning lengthy discussions will be needed to form a coalition.

It took a record 271 days for the last government to be formed.

“Anyone who knows who will win this election is lying,” political scientist Julia Wouters told AFP ahead of the vote. “Anything and everything can still happen.”