Geert Wilders wins most votes in Dutch election as populists shock Europe

Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (Peter Dejong/AP)

The far-right, anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders was headed for a massive parliamentary election victory in one of the biggest political upsets in Dutch politics since the Second World War, and one that is bound to send shockwaves through Europe.

That puts him in line to lead talks to form a new ruling coalition and possibly become the country’s first hard-right prime minister at a time of political upheaval through much of the continent.