Incumbent Dutch PM Mark Rutte savours ‘overwhelming vote of confidence’ in poll

Dutch caretaker prime minister Mark Rutte speaks with the media (Piroschka van de Wouw/AP)

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte’s conservative party powered to a fourth consecutive election victory in a vote held during a nationwide lockdown and dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, near-complete results indicated.

The feat puts Mr Rutte in pole position to begin talks to form the country’s next ruling coalition, most likely with another big winner — the centrist, pro-European D66 party led by former diplomat Sigrid Kaag, who danced on a table when an exit poll showed her party recording one of its biggest-ever ballot box victories.