Rob Jetten, the 38-year-old leader of the Dutch centrist D66 party, is poised to become the Netherlands' youngest and first openly gay prime minister following the country's recent parliamentary elections. His party secured 26 seats in the 150-seat parliament, tying with far-right leader Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV), but D66 slightly led in the overall vote count, positioning Jetten strongly for coalition talks and government formation.
Jetten’s political ascent marks a significant shift in Dutch politics. Initially known as a 'nagging climate minister,' he has transformed his public persona into that of an optimistic and pragmatic leader. Jetten expanded D66’s traditional focus beyond climate and education to tackle more divisive and pressing issues such as immigration and housing. This strategic broadening of his platform drew voters who had previously leaned towards the right, reflected in his confrontations with Wilders. He accused Wilders of 'hijacking' Dutch identity and of using women’s and LGBTQ+ rights as tools to vilify Muslim communities — a tactic Jetten openly condemned as exploitative.
The Netherlands is known for its progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights, having been the first country globally to legalise same-sex marriage 25 years ago, during a period when Jetten’s D66 party was part of the ruling coalition. Remarkably, Jetten’s sexuality was not a contentious issue during the campaign, reflecting the country’s strong protections and social acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals. His personal life captured public attention after a social media trend in 2021 led to a viral “bromance” TikTok with another politician, which amusingly resulted in Jetten meeting his Argentine fiancé, international hockey player Nicolás Keenan. The couple is planning to marry in August next year.
On policy, Jetten has prioritized addressing the housing crisis by proposing the construction of ten new towns and advocating for cutting bureaucratic red tape to allow for the creation of 100,000 new homes annually. On immigration, he has suggested processing asylum applications outside the European Union to manage the flow more effectively and ensure fair treatment. He emphasised a government approach aimed at welcoming genuine refugees while deporting those deemed to be 'rotten apples' within the system.
Jetten’s poised and hopeful leadership drew praise from fellow D66 members like Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren, who hailed him as 'one of the most talented politicians the Netherlands has ever had' and expressed confidence in his ability to unite the country and reverse the 'negative spiral' attributed to Wilders’ divisive politics.
The recent election results represent a significant setback for Wilders' PVV, which lost about a quarter of its seats amid accusations of poor governance and increased competition from other right-wing parties. Mainstream parties, including D66, have categorically ruled out forming a coalition with Wilders, complicating his options for government participation. [Photo: Instagram] Source: Noah Wire Services