Election casts shadow over government

Provincial elections held on 2 March have resulted in what the Volkskrant headline describes as a "neck and neck race for power in the Senate," which will finally be decided on 23 May, when provincial representatives designate the 75 members of the upper house of the Dutch parliament. In the run-up to the announcement of the definitive results of yesterday’s vote, the daily reports on gains made by liberal Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s VVD, populist Geert Wilders’ PVV, the left-wing liberals of D66, and the new 50Plus seniors party. The newspaper also highlights what it describes as “another blow” for the Christian democrats of the CDA. Close to 56% voters (as opposed to 46.4% in 2007) cast their ballots in the vote which, as De Morgen notes, could described as "the world’s most awkward election." The outcome will have serious implications for the stability of the minority government formed by the VVD and the CDA, with external support from the PVV. As it stands, the ruling coalition can only count on 35 seats in the 75-member Senate. If it does not secure the cooperation of 38 senators, "negotiations with the opposition will be required to push through legislation" in the upper house, writes Volkskrant.