STORY: Far-right Freedom Party (PVV) leader Geert Wilders cast his ballot on Wednesday (October 29) morning as voting started in the Netherlands' general election.

The election was forced by Wilders and the far-right in June, when he unexpectedly toppled the fragile right-wing coalition dominated by his party, blaming partners for not supporting his plan to halt all asylum migration.

Wilders won the previous election in November 2023 by a surprisingly wide margin, but had to give up his ambition to be prime minister to form a governing coalition.

The resulting government, led by the politically independent career bureaucrat Dick Schoof, failed to implement major policy aims and was brought down by Wilders in under a year.

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VIDEO SHOWS: DUTCH FAR-RIGHT CANDIDATE, GEERT WILDERS, CASTING VOTE IN ELECTION / SOUNDBITE FROM WILDERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (OCTOBER 29, 2025) (AGENCY POOL - Access All)

1. DUTCH FAR-RIGHT FREEDOM PARTY LEADER, GEERT WILDERS, ARRIVING AT POLLING STATION

2. WILDERS TAKING BALLOTS AND HEADING TOWARDS VOTING BOOTH

3. WILDERS EXITING VOTING BOOTH, CASTING HIS VOTE AND HEADING TOWARDS MEDIA

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH FREEDOM PARTY LEADER, GEERT WILDERS, SAYING:

(REPORTER OFF CAMERA: "Do you think you will have a second chance today?")

"Well, we will see. It's up to the voters today. It's a close call to four or five different parties. So I'm confident. But we have to see how much the outcome will be."

(REPORTER OFF CAMERA: "Are you ready to negotiate?")

"Of course, we always are."

(REPORTER OFF CAMERA: "But if nobody wants to work with you, it will be more difficult.")

"Well, you know, the voters are in charge. The bigger we will become, the easier that will be. Today it's voting day, tomorrow it's politician day. So we will see, but I hope it will be good after all."

5. WILDERS WALKING TOWARDS EXIT AND GETTING IN CAR