Largest Dutch party should take lead in government talks, D66 leader says

The largest party in the Dutch election needs to get the lead in the formation of a new government, the leader of the centrist D66 party Rob Jetten said on Thursday. With almost all votes counted, Jetten's D66 is virtually tied for the lead with the far right Freedom Party (PVV) led by anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders.

"In my opinion, the largest party should get the initiative," Jetten said on the morning after the election, adding that results showed it would be hard for Wilders to reach a majority. Mainstream parties from the left to the right have in recent weeks excluded joining a government with the PVV, effectively ruling out his options for a viable coalition.