Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The centrist liberal Democrats 66 surged in Wednesday's Dutch elections, finishing in a virtual tie with the far-right Party for Freedom for most seats in parliament, according to reports.

The progressive Democrats 66 gained seats and tied with the far-right party of Geert Wilders, which fell back sharply from a strong performance two years ago.

Geert Wilders suffered a loss of support as a center-left party staged major gains, an election result that could offer lessons for Europe’s far right.

In the Netherlands, the centrist D66 party looks on course to beat the far right in the national election. Exit polls have predicted Rob Jetten's party will claim victory, which could lead him to become the country's youngest ever prime minister. Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders who had come first in the last elections in 2023 said he was disappointed about his Freedom Party's result. Meanwhile the leader of the left-wing Dutch Greens Labour party stood down after a disappointing result.

The centrist D66 party was on course to win most votes in the Dutch national election and defeat the far right, an exit poll showed on Wednesday, opening a path for the energetic leader Rob Jetten to become the Netherlands' youngest and first openly gay prime minister. The exit poll projected D66 to win 27 seats in…

Rob Jetten's D66 party celebrates but with most of the votes counted the result is too close to call.

But here’s why the Brussels establishment shouldn’t celebrate too hard just yet.

Though parties neck-and-neck in results, D66 head Rob Jetten seen as likely to form government, since all mainstream factions are shunning Wilders's Freedom Party

Liberal boss Rob Jetten had a big night, lefty leader Frans Timmermans had a disaster — and what about far-right figurehead Geert Wilders?

Rob Jetten's electoral success has come as a surprise, but politically, all the stars were aligned for him to achieve it.

The centrist D66 party, led by Rob Jetten, defied expectations and won the same number of seats as the Party For Freedom, led by Geert Wilders.

The race between anti-immigration Geert Wilders' far right Party for Freedom and the centrist D66 is still neck and neck. However given all major parties have ruled out forming a coalition Wilders, it is likely the energetic Rob Jetten of D66 will become the countries next prime minister - even if he comes second. So who is the 38-year-old and what is his agenda?

The centrist D66 unexpectedly matched Geert Wilders’ anti-migration Party for Freedom in a nail-biting vote in the Netherlands, according to a preliminary forecast.

Exit poll indicates a tight Dutch election, with D66 slightly leading over Wilders' party, signaling possible coalition challenges ahead.

Rob Jetten was brimming with positivity when he delivered a victory speech to his campaign staff and colleagues at the D66 party in Leiden. The 38-year-old leader of the centrist political faction said the exit poll results after Wednesday's election made it clear that Dutch voters were fed up with division and hatred in national politics.

Meet the progressive liberals who raced past other mainstream parties in the Netherlands.