Dutch in the EU elections

Dutch lean to anti-EU party The Age Australia — THE Freedom Party of Geert Wilders, the Dutch MP who made a film linking the Koran to violence, may become the Netherlands' second-largest party in the European Parliament. Mr Wilders' Freedom Party may have received 15.3 per cent of the votes, or four seats, as it participated in the European polls for the first time, exit polls indicated. Mr Wilders seeks to reduce European Union influence, curb immigration and reject Turkey's membership in the bloc. click to read complete article

EU to probe Dutch release of EU election results Taiwan News — The European Commission says it is demanding the Netherlands explain why it released national results for European elections before other EU nations finished voting. EU spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio says the publication of unofficial Dutch late Thursday did "not comply with the spirit" of the EU vote. click to read complete article

Dutch anti-Islamic party makes gains in EU poll Agence France Presse — EU parliamentary elections hit turbulence Friday after prematurely published Dutch results confirmed fears of voter apathy and extremist gains and Britain's prime minister sought damage control. As the world's biggest transnational vote gathered pace, with Czech and Irish voters going to the polls on day two, embattled British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was already licking his wounds. click to read complete article